Catholic Guardian Services Opens School-Based Mental Health Clinic at P.S. 691 in the Bronx
September 28, 2026
Catholic Guardian Services has opened a new school-based mental health clinic at P.S. 691 Bronx Little School, located at 1827 Archer Street in the Bronx. The clinic brings mental health counseling directly into the school community, helping children access compassionate care and support in a familiar environment where they learn and grow.
Opening on September 28, 2026, the clinic expands Catholic Guardian Services' school-based mental health services in New York City, building on the agency's first school-based clinic at P.S. 119 in the Bronx. Through its Family Counseling and Wellness Center, Catholic Guardian Services provides on-site counseling to help students thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
“This is about meeting children and families where they are and ensuring that support is accessible, compassionate, and rooted in the community,” said Craig Longley, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Guardian Services. “For nearly 140 years, Catholic Guardian Services has walked alongside children and families in great need. The opening of this new clinic reflects both our longstanding legacy and our continued commitment to providing help, creating hope, and preserving dignity. We are deeply grateful to our dedicated staff and community partners whose collaboration and support made this important milestone possible.”
Bringing Mental Health Care into the School Community
School-based mental health clinics help reduce barriers that can make it difficult for children and families to access care. By bringing counseling into schools, these programs provide students with opportunities to receive support in a setting they already know and trust.
The New York State Office of Mental Health's school-based mental health clinic initiative emphasizes the importance of timely access to treatment and collaboration between mental health professionals, school staff and families. Locating services within schools can also help reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health care.
For Catholic Guardian Services, the new clinic reflects a commitment to meeting children and families where they are and strengthening access to care within the communities it serves.
A Partnership Rooted in Community
The opening of the P.S. 691 clinic was made possible through collaboration among Catholic Guardian Services, Bronx Little School and the New York City Office of School Health's School Mental Health program.
Catholic Guardian Services extends its gratitude to Principal Beverly Urquiza and the entire P.S. 691 school community, as well as Brigid Hipschman and Kimberly Amazu of the city's school mental health team, whose partnership and advocacy helped advance this initiative.
The agency also acknowledges the New York State Office of Mental Health for its guidance and support throughout the approval process.
Expanding Access to Mental Health Care in New York City
For more than a decade, Catholic Guardian Services has provided behavioral health services to children and families throughout New York City. Through its Family Counseling and Wellness Center, Children's Health Home programs and Harmony Health Clinic, the agency delivers mental health and care management services addressing emotional and physical well-being.
The opening of the P.S. 691 clinic marks another step in bringing these services closer to the children and families who need them.
To learn more about Catholic Guardian Services' mental health programs and available services, visit the CGS Family Counseling and Wellness Center.
About Catholic Guardian Services
Catholic Guardian Services is a nonprofit social service agency serving children and families across the five boroughs of New York City. The agency provides foster care and adoption services, children's mental health care, family support programs, and services for people with developmental disabilities, and serves all who need help regardless of faith, race, or background. Sponsored by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, its roots reach back to 1887, and its legal incorporation dates to 1913. Catholic Guardian Services is headquartered at 488 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022. Phone: (212) 371-1000. Donate or learn more at catholicguardian.org.