The Child Center of NY – August Martin High School

August Martin High School, in Jamaica, New York, is a community school operated by the Child Center of New York. They started out as a children’s counseling center. Their understanding of the social problems that contribute to children’s mental health issues has led them to build supports that address those issues. One of the strategies they use is to operate community schools like August Martin High School.

Their community schools, including this one, were designed to place youth mental health at the center of the educational experience. Some of the school’s features are an integrated wellness center, engagement of families, and targeted attendance outreach. If you have an issue with substance abuse, they’ll refer you to one of their Family Wellness Centers, including one close by.

They differentiate themselves from other mental health and substance use programs by addressing the roots of these problems at the social level. The community schools are part of a larger initiative to disrupt the cycle of generational poverty and thereby improve the wellbeing of families.