County Releases Behavioral Health Needs Assessment & Action Plan
Published on May 27, 2026
Ulster County Completes Behavioral Health Needs Assessment, Releases Recommended Action Plan to Strengthen Services
KINGSTON, NY - The Ulster County Department of Mental Health has released the results of a comprehensive Behavioral Health Needs Assessment conducted by the Human Services Research Institute, providing a data‑driven roadmap for strengthening the County’s behavioral health system that will directly inform the Mental Health Department's five‑year strategic plan.
The assessment draws on extensive quantitative analysis and input from more than 200 community members, including individuals with lived experience navigating mental health and substance use services. Insights were gathered through 73 interviews with 179 stakeholders — among them service providers, individuals and families, local officials, law enforcement, and school representatives — offering a comprehensive view of system strengths, gaps, and emerging needs.
The findings highlight several key challenges impacting residents, including increasing cultural diversity; persistent racial, geographic, and linguistic disparities; and limited access to services in rural areas, where more than half of Ulster County’s population resides. Rising housing costs and ongoing workforce pressures are also straining system capacity. Community members emphasized the need for a more coordinated, easy‑to‑navigate system that centers whole‑person care.
Based on these insights, the report recommends actions to expand access, strengthen crisis response, and continue shifting the system toward proactive, community‑based care. The assessment underscores Ulster County Mental Health Department's role as a central convener and positions the County and its partners to build on existing strengths, elevate lived experience, and use data‑informed strategies to improve outcomes for residents.
This work builds on recent progress made by the Ulster County Department of Mental Health, with support from the County Executive’s Office and Legislature and the Community Services Board. Key advancements include the Center for Well‑Being — home to the Crisis Support Center and the Children’s Way Counseling Center — and expanded partnerships with community‑based providers such as the LaSalle School. These initiatives have created critical new pathways to care while helping address longstanding gaps in crisis and outpatient services.
Like communities across the country, Ulster County is experiencing rising behavioral health needs driven by the opioid crisis, housing instability, and workforce challenges. To respond, the County's Mental Health Department was reestablished as a separate entity from the Department of Health in 2021 and, in 2025, launched the Countywide assessment to better understand:
- The prevalence of mental health and substance use needs across populations
- The availability of services, including culturally responsive care
- Gaps between community needs and current resources
- Systemwide opportunities to strengthen coordination and accessibility
The assessment’s findings will guide the development of a more coordinated, equitable, and data‑driven behavioral health system for Ulster County residents. The full report and opportunities for community feedback are available at: https://ulstercountyny.gov/mental-health/bhna.
“Every resident in Ulster County deserves timely, high‑quality behavioral health care, no matter where they live or what challenges they face,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “This assessment gives us a clear, evidence‑based picture of where the system is working and where it must be strengthened. It reflects the voices of people with lived experience, families, providers, and community leaders, and it will guide our long‑term strategy to expand access, improve coordination, and build a behavioral health system rooted in equity and community care. I want to thank Commissioner Tara McDonald and the entire Mental Health team for their dedication, compassion, and steadfast commitment to improving the lives of our residents.”
“This assessment reflects our commitment to building a behavioral health system that truly meets the needs of our community,” said Commissioner for Mental Health Tara McDonald. “By listening to residents and grounding our work in data, we are identifying practical, forward-looking steps to strengthen access, improve coordination, and ensure services are equitable across Ulster County.”
"The work allowed us to hear directly from community members, particularly those with lived experience, and it ensured their voices appeared in the findings,” said Joleen Darby, the Mental Health Department's Special Projects Director. “That input is helping shape a system that is more responsive, easier to navigate, and centered on the whole person. We look forward to continuing to engage the community as this work moves forward.”
For more information, visit https://ulstercountyny.gov/mental-health/bhna.