Westchester County secured a $4 million federal grant to build a coordinated behavioral health system for children and teens with serious emotional needs, the county announced in a press release Tuesday, Aug. 18.

The program will partner with schools countywide, though it remains unclear whether Bronxville, Scarsdale or Eastchester districts have formal roles.

The four-year award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will fund a new program called THRIVE Westchester, short for Transforming Health, Recovery and Integrated Value in Education. The program aims to connect schools, families, healthcare providers and community organizations into a single support network for young people from birth through age 21.

County Executive Ken Jenkins said the grant reflects the county's commitment to children's well-being and described THRIVE Westchester as a way to strengthen partnerships among schools, behavioral health providers, families and community organizations, according to a county statement posted on Instagram.

The grant comes from SAMHSA's Children's Mental Health Initiative, a national program that distributed roughly $43.4 million across an expected 22 awards in 2026, according to the federal grant listing.

The SAMHSA listing shows a per-award ceiling of $3 million; the county's $4 million figure may reflect the four-year total rather than an annual amount.

Commissioner Michael Orth's Department of Community Mental Health will administer the program from its White Plains offices.

The county's announcement names schools as key partners but does not specify which districts will participate or when services will begin. The Bronxville Beacon has reached out to DCMH for details on the program's timeline and local school partnerships.

Residents seeking more information can contact DCMH at 914-995-5220 or visit dcmhservices.westchestergov.com.