Assemblywoman Paula Kay (D, Rock Hill) has secured $10 million in state funding to establish what officials describe as New York’s first trauma-informed residential treatment center and middle school specifically for girls facing significant mental health challenges. The funding, included in the fiscal year 2027 state budget, will support the development of EverGreen Meadow Academy in the Town of Thompson in Sullivan County.
The Facility and Its Purpose
EverGreen Meadow Academy will serve girls in grades 6-8 from across the state, offering trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive care in a residential setting designed for middle school-aged girls. According to EverGreen Meadow Services, the facility addresses a documented gap in New York’s mental health care system for girls who frequently cycle through emergency departments, inpatient psychiatric units, and out-of-state placements due to limited specialized residential options.
Addressing a Growing Crisis
Kay emphasized that the project responds to what she characterized as a growing mental health crisis among young girls, citing rising rates of self-harm, psychiatric hospitalization, and other acute mental health emergencies statewide. “This investment is a commitment to curbing the ever-growing mental health epidemic that we find ourselves in today,” Kay stated. She noted that programming already offered through schools in Sullivan County is having impact on students, with the new residential treatment center expected to expand these efforts significantly.
Path to Funding
Kay began advocating for the project before taking office, with the funding representing the culmination of years of work by the organization. Stacey Millman, president of EverGreen Meadow Services, expressed gratitude for Kay’s involvement, stating that the “transformational funding will turn that vision into a reality for New York state girls and their families” and praising Kay’s “steadfast leadership and advocacy” in championing the project.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://midhudsonnews.com/2026/05/28/kay-helps-secure-10m-for-girls-mental-health-treatment-center-in-sullivan-county/