KINGSTON, NY – Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger today welcomed Dr. Ann Marie T. Sullivan, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health, along with state and local officials, service providers, and community partners to celebrate the opening of the Ulster County Center for Well‑Being at 368 Broadway in Kingston. The multi‑service facility marks a major expansion of community‑based care, bringing together a full continuum of behavioral health, crisis response, youth mental health care, and victim support services to expand access for residents across the County.

The first floor is home to the Ulster County Crisis Support Center, which had a soft opening in January and is operated by People USA in partnership with the Ulster County Department of Mental Health. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the Center provides immediate, walk‑in support for youth and adults experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. Services include clinical assessments, peer support, intervention, and coordinated follow‑up care. The Center offers a safe, welcoming alternative to emergency room visits and gives law enforcement the ability to divert individuals in crisis to timely, community‑based care.

“The Center for Well‑Being represents a major step forward in how we care for the health of our community,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “For the first time, residents can access a full continuum of behavioral health and wellness services under one roof and receive compassionate care in a supportive environment. This Center is grounded in dignity, compassion, and the belief that help should be available the moment someone needs it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I am deeply grateful to our partners at People USA, Access: Supports for Living, the Children’s Home, and to our dedicated County teams whose work made this vision a reality. I also want to recognize our early partners who helped lay the foundation for this project — Congressman Pat Ryan, Public Health Director Eve Walter, and our partners in the Legislature. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier Ulster County where every resident has a place to turn for support.”

“The new Ulster County Crisis Support Center operated by People USA will help New Yorkers experiencing a behavioral health crisis to receive care in a comforting environment at any time day or night,” said Dr. Ann Sullivan, NYS Office of Mental Health Commissioner. “The Ulster County Center for Well-Being joins a growing list of Intensive and Supportive Crisis Stabilization Centers operating around the state and marks the first Intensive Crisis Stabilization Center in the Mid-Hudson Region. These centers help individuals and families avoid visits to often busy hospital emergency rooms, providing high-quality treatment and vital connections to community-based services. The growth of these resources reflects Governor Hochul’s vision for providing access to mental health care for all New Yorkers who need it.”

“Mental health care is vital health care — that’s why I fought hard to get this project off the ground as Ulster County Executive, and why I am so proud to see it completed today,” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Especially amid Trump’s devastating health care cuts forcing closures and downsizing across the region, it’s more important than ever that we make investments in our communities’ health. I want to thank County Executive Jen Metzger, the Ulster County Legislature and Department of Mental Health, as well as New York State OMH and OASAS for their tireless work in getting this project over the finish line!”

“Today’s ribbon cutting marks an important investment in compassionate, community-based care for individuals facing substance use and mental health challenges,” said OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham. “Thanks to the leadership of Ulster County, People USA and Governor Hochul’s continued support, this new Crisis Support Center will expand access to lifesaving services, peer support, and immediate care for Hudson Valley residents.”

“This ribbon cutting for the Ulster County Center for Well-Being and for the Crisis Support Center represents far more than a new facility — it reflects what’s possible when people come together with a shared commitment to care, dignity, and recovery,” said Steve Miccio, CEO of People USA. “We’re deeply grateful to the New York State Office of Mental Health and Office of Addiction Services and Supports for their leadership and support, to Ulster County for their strong partnership, whose investment helped bring this vision to life. Most importantly, we recognize the dedication of our staff and community members who made this possible. This center stands as a place of hope and support, and we see it as an important step toward ensuring that people in crisis have a compassionate, accessible place to turn.”

“When the Legislature was deciding how to allocate federal ARPA funds, we asked a lot of hard questions,” said Ulster County Legislature Chair Peter Criswell. “The one we kept coming back to: will the community, thirty years from now, say we spent this money wisely? The Center for Well-Being is the answer to that question. This isn’t just a building — it’s a permanent home for healing, and it will be serving our neighbors, their families, and their children for years to come. That’s exactly what responsible public investment looks like.”

“The Center for Well-Being was an ambitious vision for Ulster County,” said Tara McDonald, Commissioner of the Ulster County Department of Mental Health. “The County made a huge investment in both purchasing the building and completing all of the necessary renovations to ensure that we would be providing our residents with a warm, welcoming, inviting safe space to lay down their troubles.”

“When I served in the Legislature and we received ARPA funding in 2022, I saw an opportunity to make a lasting investment in both public health and public safety,” said Eve Walter, Public Health Director. “By bringing stakeholders together across healthcare, law enforcement, and community organizations, we were able to move this vision from an idea to reality. This Center for Well-Being will give people in crisis the care, dignity, and support they deserve while strengthening outcomes for our entire community.”

“On behalf of the residents of Kingston, I want to thank County Executive Jen Metzger and her team for their efforts to bring these much-needed services to the community,” said Kingston Mayor Steve Noble. “We are grateful for the County and the NYS Office of Mental Health’s ongoing support for the most vulnerable members of our community, and for providing these vital supportive resources.”

A Comprehensive Hub for Community Wellness
The Center for Well‑Being houses multiple behavioral health and supportive programs on four floors:

 

First Floor – Crisis Support Center (People USA)

Available 24/7 with no appointment needed, offering crisis stabilization, clinical evaluations, peer support, immediate intervention, and coordination of follow‑up care.


Second Floor – Access: Supports for Living – Behavioral Health Urgent Care, and the Ulster County Crime Victims Assistance Program (CVAP)

• Walk‑in mental health and substance use urgent care for adults and children, including evaluation, counseling, medication management, safety planning, and referrals for longer‑term treatment.

• The Crime Victims Assistance Program provides confidential, survivor‑centered support for any Ulster County resident who has experienced crime, including crisis counseling, safety planning, assistance navigating reporting options, and connection to resources.


Third Floor – Children’s Way Counseling Center (Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie)

A new youth mental health clinic serving ages 5–21, offering psychiatric evaluation, crisis intervention, medication treatment, individual and family therapy, and care coordination to support healthy development and family stability.

 

Fourth Floor – Ulster County Department of Mental Health

Administrative offices and program coordination for Ulster County’s behavioral health system, community programs, prevention initiatives, and regional partnerships.

The Center for Well‑Being was developed through extensive collaboration among Ulster County government, People USA, Access: Supports for Living, the Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie, the New York State Office of Mental Health, and numerous community stakeholders. The project is supported in part by federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds dedicated by the Ulster County Legislature.

 

For more information, please visit: ulstercountyny.gov/center-for-well-being