The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded Binghamton University Community Schools (BUCS) a 5-year grant, totaling more than $4.5 million to expand mental health services in Chenango County. (Submitted photo)

CHENANGO COUNTY — The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded Binghamton University Community Schools (BUCS) a 5-year grant, totaling more than $4.5 million to expand mental health services in Chenango County.

The grant is part of the Mental Health Service Provider Demonstration Grant Program and the initiative is entitled, Empowering Rural Communities: Promoting mental health, equity, and well being through a university-assisted community schools approach.

“This initiative is a significant step forward for Chenango County's mental health support infrastructure and will have lasting benefits for the community,” said Norwich City School District Superintendent Scott Ryan.


Ryan said the initiative will have a significant positive impact by expanding mental health services to 2,310 students and their families in the Norwich and Oxford School Districts, addressing critical mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and trauma, which have escalated since the pandemic.

“It aligns with a university-assisted community school model, which leverages higher education resources to support rural and underserved communities,” Ryan said.

“The initiative promotes equity and well-being by providing access to evidence-based mental health services,” he said. “Mental health issues directly affect students’ academic performance and overall quality of life.”