New York, N.Y. (January 28, 2025) – To fund the development of vital behavioral health career pathways, Guttman Community College has received grant awards totaling $1,086,000 from the following funders: The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation ($876,000), Summerfield Foundation ($110,000) and Trinity Church NYC ($100,000). With education and career pathways as proven models for supporting a workforce at scale, the grants will allow the College to create the systemic infrastructure needed to recruit, retain and advance the frontline behavioral health workforce, fulfilling a critical need in New York City.
“These generous grants will enable Guttman Community College to bridge a critical gap in New York City’s behavioral health workforce. By establishing clear career pathways and offering targeted training, we will equip frontline workers with the skills they need to advance into roles that not only elevate their careers but also strengthen the mental health and substance use systems that our city depends on,” said Guttman President Larry Johnson, Jr. “This initiative represents an essential step toward ensuring that we have the trained professionals necessary to meet the growing demands of our communities, while also offering meaningful opportunities for advancement and long-term career success.”
By developing the behavioral health workforce, Guttman’s program will help alleviate New York City’s shortage of behavioral health professionals. According to a 2024-2026 Behavioral Health Blueprint by NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest behavioral health provider in NYC, the current vacancy rate for behavioral health positions at their organization is approximately 30%, which is consistent with the national average of 30-35%. High turnover rates in behavioral health facilities make it challenging to maintain sufficient staffing and can disrupt mental health and substance abuse care.
Unlike nursing or other healthcare disciplines, there is no existing upskilling program at a college in New York City to move frontline behavioral health workers into middle-skill positions. Guttman will establish a clear behavioral health career pathway, working with industry partners to design a training program that prepares entry-level, frontline behavioral health workers for in-demand, middle-skill roles. Additionally, Guttman will provide job descriptions, program models and other tools that employers can use to support a growing middle-skill workforce.
Students who participate in the program will receive training in supervision, budget management, supporting complex clients with co-occurring challenges and other skills that employers indicate are necessary for promotion, helping community health workers (CHWs) and other frontline staff advance into positions such as program coordinators.
“We are excited to embark on this important work in an area of need across New York City. Our goals are to build pathways for incumbent workers in the behavioral health field, to bring the Guttman supportive approach to a new group of students/workers and to enhance our community. I especially want to thank our funders (Mother Cabrini, Summerfield and Trinity Church) for valuing those goals and for their generosity, vision and collaboration,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Paul Reifenheiser.
In determining the need for Guttman’s program, Guttman surveyed 29 individuals representing 20 employers in New York City who identified 2,531 middle-skill roles at their organizations. 80% of respondents indicated gaps in service delivery due to a lack of middle-skill workers, pointing to the need to increase this workforce. All respondents agreed to collaborate with Guttman to develop the program, which is expected to begin in 2025.
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The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of vulnerable communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. Named after a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation funds programs and initiatives across New York State that either provide direct healthcare services or address the social determinants of health. For more information, visit cabrinihealth.org.
Trinity Church NYC is an Episcopal parish in New York City founded in 1697. Trinity works for justice, serves its neighbors, and brings people together to experience God’s love in community. Trinity’s outreach in the city includes 20 weekly worship services, food assistance seven days a week for people in need, support for asylum seekers, housing for the elderly and people living with disabilities, youth programs, and a wide array of free music and educational events throughout the year. The church also supports communities and ministries serving the world in Africa, Asia, and across the Americas.
The Solon E. Summerfield Foundation, Inc. (SESF) has championed and supported nonprofit organizations dedicated to the holistic development of underserved children and youth since its inception in 1929. Solon E. Summerfield believed that a college degree was a crucial driver of social and economic mobility. This conclusion, adapted to address the complex challenges of our time and the future of work, continues to have urgent relevance today.
Stella and Charles Guttman Community College was CUNY’s first new community college in more than forty years. Reimagining what community college could be, Guttman opened its doors in Manhattan in August 2012 to create a research-based, innovative model focused on moving students efficiently toward graduation. Offering associate degree programs in a nurturing environment, the College’s three-year graduation rate consistently surpasses the national average, and most graduates transfer to senior colleges. Guttman is federally designated as a Hispanic-serving institution and minority-serving institution with more than 85% of the student population identifying as Latine or Black/African American. The College was named the best community college in America in 2020 and the top community college in New York State for 2020, 2021, and 2022 by Niche.com and other ranking agencies.
