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White House Identifies Role for Service Coordinators in Mental Health Strategy

During a March 3rd call with LeadingAge National and other stakeholders, senior staff from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the White House shared more details about plans to equip Service Coordinators, HUD Housing Counselors, and Fair Housing grantees with mental health training as part of the White House’s strategy to address the national mental health crisis.

Training would leverage existing evidence-based mental health programming, including “Mental Health First Aid” courses that are built around assessing, listening, reassuring, and encouraging self-help or professional assistance. HUD plans to cover the cost of this training without requiring it to be paid out of a property’s Service Coordinator budget. More details about the March 3rd stakeholder call are available from LeadingAge National here.

Extensive research has shown that Service Coordinators (or resident assistants) already play a significant role in promoting emotional well-being, stronger social supports, and better connections between aging residents and needed programs and resources. However, much of the HUD-assisted housing portfolio lacks a Service Coordinator position, as do most properties that received State assistance or tax benefits in exchange for long-term affordability. Click here to join LeadingAge NY in asking State lawmakers to include $5 million in this year’s budget to allow for the creation of a Service Coordinator role in more affordable senior housing properties throughout the state.

Contact: Annalyse Komoroske Denio, akomoroskedenio@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866