Family Services CEO Leah Feldman and program staff told the Ulster County Legislature’s Health, Human Services and Human Rights Committee on May 8 that the nonprofit is expanding behavioral‑health services in the county, starting a same‑day access model and opening a childcare center at the Ulster County Family Court.

The presentation matters because Family Services said the changes expand access to mental‑health care and supports for families in Ulster County and nearby communities, add medication‑assisted treatment for opioid use disorder and move the agency toward integrated behavioral‑health and primary‑care partnerships.

Leah Feldman, CEO of Family Services, told the committee the agency operates 14 sites across Ulster, Dutchess and Orange counties and “exists to support everyone’s right to thrive.” She said Family Services will open a childcare center at the Ulster County Family Court after receiving a state grant to provide free childcare for families using the court.

Jesse Scribe, chief program officer for Family Services, described the behavioral‑health expansions. “We have New York State Office of Mental Health behavioral‑health centers in Ulster County,” Scribe said. He said the agency currently serves adults 18 and older in centers in Highland, Kingston (Golden Hill) and Ellenville and plans to expand services to children age 3 and older at Ulster County sites “very soon this summer,” with individual and group therapy, peer‑led supports and psychiatric medication management for children and families.

Scribe said Family Services launched same‑day or open access in March to let people walk into a center for an initial appointment instead of waiting days or weeks. “We’ve seen a 20% plus increase in access over the same period of time last year,” he said.

The agency also plans to start medication‑assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder — including buprenorphine by mouth or injection — and to bring case‑management services in‑house rather than relying entirely on partner agencies. Scribe said Family Services will provide MAT and is “kicking off case management,” which the agency previously contracted from the Mental Health Association.

Feldman and Scribe also described partnerships intended to broaden care coordination: Family Services will provide clinical care with People USA at a new stabilization center and said it is forming referral arrangements with the Institute for Family Health to streamline primary‑care and behavioral‑health referrals. Feldman noted Family Services operates a large Family Partnership Center that houses about 20 nonprofits and other organizations.

Feldman emphasized the regional reach and the agency’s role in prevention: last year Family Services said it served nearly 19,000 children, adults and families across the Hudson Valley and is coordinating the Ulster Prevention Council with all nine Ulster County school districts on evidence‑based substance‑use prevention.

Committee members asked about timing and local rollout. Scribe said expansion to serve children age 3 and older is expected by July, and the committee and Family Services discussed promotional outreach to schools and partners.

Feldman closed by referencing a Family Services public‑service campaign and said the agency will continue to share updates with county partners.

Additional details provided at the presentation: Family Services operates two Kingston sites, one in Ellenville and one in Highland in Ulster County; the same‑day access pilot began in March; the agency reported a roughly 20% increase in access compared with the previous year; expansion to children ages 3+ is targeted for summer 2025.

Committee context: the presentation occurred during the committee’s May 8 meeting; Family Services requested questions and left time for discussion after a short video.

Sources: Presentation to Ulster County Health, Human Services and Human Rights Committee by Leah Feldman (CEO, Family Services) and Jesse Scribe (Chief Program Officer, Family Services).