Restore Critical Mental Health Funding for Seneca Falls and Lyons School Districts

With the new school year about to begin, nearly 27,000 students in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region face the loss of trusted counselors and mental health professionals in their schools. The Mental Health Service Professionals (MHSP) program, which places graduate students and professionals in schools to provide counseling, crisis intervention, and violence prevention, is now in jeopardy due to the freezing of over $7.4 million in federal funding.

Seneca Falls stands to lose $2.4 million, risking 90 counselor positions for 8,000 students. In Lyons, the entire $5 million award is frozen, threatening 150 positions for nearly 10,000 students. School leaders and mental health experts agree: these cuts are not just numbers—they are the loss of lifelines for students in crisis, trusted adults, and critical supports that help prevent violence and promote well-being.

We urge the Department of Education to immediately unfreeze and release these funds. Protecting students' mental health is not a partisan issue—it's a moral imperative. Our rural communities cannot afford to lose these essential services. Act now to ensure every student has access to the support they need.