Will Help Address Service Gaps and Growing Demand for Mental Health Services
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins has officially opened a new Mental Health Safety Net Clinic in White Plains, restoring the County’s direct role in providing outpatient behavioral health services. The state-of-the-art facility, located at 112 East Post Road in White Plains, expands the County’s capacity to address service gaps, reduce waitlists, and respond to the growing demand for mental health care in Westchester County.
Jenkins said: “Nearly 15 years ago, the doors of Westchester County’s Safety Net Clinic were forced to close. Restoring that system of care for our residents was not an option, it was essential. For too long, our hospitals and emergency rooms have been forced to carry a responsibility they were never designed to bear – but that ends now. This clinic will provide the consistent, compassionate outpatient treatment that people need to rebuild their lives, because in Westchester County, no one faces a mental health crisis alone.”
Since 2020, the demand for outpatient behavioral health services has increased significantly, contributing to extended wait times and added strain on emergency departments and hospitals. The reopening of the Safety Net Clinic restores a critical community-based resource, and strengthens Westchester County’s broader strategy to improve access to care, and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations.
Department of Community Mental Health Commissioner Michael Orth said: “This clinic represents a major step forward in strengthening Westchester’s behavioral health continuum of care. I want to thank County Executive Jenkins for his steadfast commitment to expanding access for our residents. The reopening of the Safety Net Clinic compliments our crisis response system, including 988 services and hospital diversion efforts, and reflects the commitment to providing accessible, recovery-oriented, and integrated care for individuals with mental health and co-occurring substance use challenges. I also want to recognize the dedicated staff, under the leadership of Melanie Montalto, who worked tirelessly to make this day possible.”
The Clinic will provide comprehensive outpatient mental health services for adults age 18 and older. Services are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and person-centered, with a focus on recovery, wellness and connection to community supports. Operating under a “no wrong door” philosophy, the Clinic will ensure individuals with complex or co-occurring mental health and substance use needs receive coordinated and integrated care.
Assistant Director of Division Clinic Administration Melanie Montalto said: “From initial planning through construction to state licensure, this has been a true team effort. We are proud to open a clinic that ensures individuals who may not otherwise have access to care, can receive high-quality outpatient treatment. This facility will help individuals with their recovery in the community, and connect them with ongoing supports.”
Comprehensive services will include individual therapy, crisis intervention, medication management, group therapy, health assessments, referrals, peer services, referrals, peer services, interfaith support, integrated treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Spanish-speaking services are available, along with interpretation through Language Line for additional languages.
Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Vedat Gashi said: “The reopening of this Safety Net Clinic reflects our commitment to meeting the critical mental health needs of our community. Access to timely, community-based mental health care is essential to the health and stability of our families and neighborhoods. By expanding services and reducing barriers to care, we are strengthening the safety net and ensuring more residents can get the support they need, when they need it.”
Westchester County Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson said: “Today’s opening is more than a ribbon-cutting—it’s the restoration of care, dignity, and a promise our community has waited far too long to see kept. Since my first day on the Board, it has been a goal of mine to reopen the County mental health clinics that were closed under the Astorino administration—closures my mother, Hon. Alfreda Williams, who held this seat at the time, fought against with deep frustration because she understood the harm it would cause. I have worked to ensure reopening funds were included in every County budget, even when the fiscal outlook was tight, because the need never disappeared. This Safety Net Clinic is a stable, local commitment people can count on—especially as federal support is too often yo-yo’d from one cycle to the next—and I look forward to opening more sites as County finances strengthen so every resident can access timely, compassionate care close to home.”
Advocate, and Team Leader for Crisis Stabilization Team at People-USA Christopher Rivera said: “The Safety Net clinic serves as an essential resource within the community. For many years, the County has faced persistent shortages of mental health providers, and the few clinics that remained operational were consistently at or near full capacity. These long‑standing limitations made it increasingly difficult to connect individuals with the mental health services they urgently needed. By expanding access and reducing barriers to care, the Safety Net clinic helps fill a critical gap in the local behavioral health system.”
The Clinic accepts Medicaid and private insurance, as well as uninsured individuals. Services are provided in accordance with the New York State Office of Mental Health Article 31 regulations.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Department of Community Mental Health at (914) 995-7200.
