FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 6, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Sarah Schwed | sarah.schwed@yai.org | 646.991.0158
First Office of Mental Health Crisis Residence Operated by YAI Provides Community-Based Alternative to Emergency Rooms and Hospitalization for Children
Queens, NY, October 5, 2026 – YAI joined community leaders, state officials, partners, and supporters on October 5 to celebrate the opening of its new Children’s Crisis Residence in East Elmhurst, Queens, a first-of-its-kind milestone for the organization as its inaugural program operated in partnership with the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH).
The ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together local elected officials, OMH leadership, YAI staff and board members, community partners, and neighbors to officially open the residence, which will provide short-term, voluntary mental health crisis support for children and young adults under age 21.
The OMH Children’s Crisis Residence offers a safe, home-like alternative to emergency rooms and inpatient hospitalization for young people experiencing emotional or mental health crises. Operated by YAI, the program includes two six-bed residences with a total capacity of 12 individuals and provides 24/7 therapeutic support, individualized care planning, family engagement, and community reintegration services.
“Too often, when a child is experiencing a mental health crisis, families feel like the emergency room is their only option," said Gary Milchman, Acting CEO of YAI. "This residence provides another choice, one that was built specifically for young people and designed to feel like a home, not a hospital. Families are partners in care from day one, and our trauma-informed, youth-guided approach puts safety, dignity, and each young person's voice first. As YAI's first Office of Mental Health program, this residence reflects what we bring to all of our work: compassionate, high-quality care that helps keep children and families strong and together.”
During the event, guests heard remarks from Cydney Branch, Program Director; Gary Milchman; Jessica González-Rojas, New York State Assemblymember; and Dr. Ann Marie Sullivan, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health, before participating in a ceremonial ribbon cutting and guided tours of the facility.
“This is a very special partnership with YAI. We have not had, across the state, as many places as we need to support individuals when mental health needs overlap with developmental disabilities," said Dr. Ann Marie Sullivan. "The purpose of this residence is to help young people and their families learn how to cope with the challenges life brings and to leave enriched, stronger, and able to thrive in the community. We're counting on YAI and their special expertise to make sure those individuals get the care they need. This is tremendously exciting, and it could be a model for what we might do all across the state.”
The residence is designed to help children and families stabilize during periods of crisis while maintaining strong connections to home, school, and community. Stays are typically up to 21 days and focus on helping young people develop healthy coping skills, strengthen family relationships, and connect with ongoing supports that promote long-term wellbeing.
Unlike traditional emergency settings, the residence provides trauma-informed, youth-guided care in a nurturing environment where young people can feel safe, supported, and understood. Licensed clinicians and trained mental health professionals are available around the clock, and families are actively involved in planning for a successful transition home.
“The opening of the OMH Children’s Crisis Residence in East Elmhurst expands access to a critical level of support for young people and families," said Branch. "As only the second program of its kind in New York City, this home provides a much-needed middle ground between outpatient care and hospitalization. We can welcome young people quickly, involve families from the start, and provide individualized support in a safe, homelike setting with staff available around the clock. My goal is for every young person who comes here to feel safe, supported, and understood, and to leave with the skills, confidence, and community connections they need to thrive.”
The opening reflects a shared commitment by YAI, OMH, elected leaders, and community partners to expand access to mental health services and strengthen the continuum of care available to New York’s children and families.
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About YAI: Founded in 1957, YAI remains at the forefront of an extraordinary movement aimed at empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. YAI and its network of affiliate agencies offer children and adults with (I/DD) a comprehensive range of services. YAI is committed to seeing beyond disability, providing opportunities for people to live, love, work, and learn in their communities. YAI’s 4,000 employees provide supportive housing, education, medical, dental, and mental health care, job training, community integration, and social enrichment for more than 20,000 people with I/DD, and their families, in New York, New Jersey, and California.