SUNY Jamestown Community College has been awarded an $8,000 Mental Health First Aid grant through the State University of New York, part of a systemwide initiative to strengthen student mental health support and crisis response across SUNY campuses.
The funding was announced recently by SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. as part of SUNY’s Mental Health First Aid Grant Program, which will award 27 SUNY campuses, including 11 community colleges. The initiative is expected to support Mental Health First Aid training for nearly 3,000 faculty, staff, and other non-clinical campus personnel statewide each year.
At JCC, the grant will be used to train employees to become certified Mental Health First Aid instructors and to purchase materials needed to deliver trainings on campus and beyond.
“This funding allows us to build long-term capacity at JCC,” said Morgan Franchina, director of JCC’s Success Center. “By certifying our own mental health first aid trainers, we can offer this training to JCC employees and students, while also opening the door to support community organizations and local businesses.”
Franchina said interest in the training already exists beyond campus. When the grant application was submitted by Franchina and Paula Pichon, JCC’s grant writer, there was expressed interest from local fire departments and emergency medical personnel to participate in mental health first aid training.
“That kind of response shows how important this work is, not just for colleges, but for the entire community,” Franchina said.
Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based training program that teaches participants how to recognize signs of mental health challenges, respond to individuals in distress, and connect them with appropriate professional resources. The SUNY grant supports instructor certification, training delivery, outreach efforts, and required materials.
“Mental health is health, and our priority at SUNY is to advance every aspect of our students’ growth and ensure they have the support needed to succeed in their academic, professional, and personal development,” King said in the SUNY announcement. "The grants provided through this innovative program will help ensure more SUNY staff and personnel are trained to recognize and address mental health concerns and to support students in need."
The Mental Health First Aid Grant Program was introduced as part of the chancellor’s 2025 State of the University agenda and reflects SUNY’s ongoing commitment to proactive, systemwide approaches to student well-being.
State Senator George Borrello, who represents Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, and Wyoming counties, and part of Allegany County, applauded the implementation of the grant.
"When students are struggling, we have a responsibility to make sure the people around them are prepared to help,” he said. “I'm very pleased to see SUNY Fredonia, Jamestown Community College, and Genesee Community College included in this Mental Health First Aid Grant program. This funding will give faculty and staff the tools to recognize when a student is in distress, respond appropriately, and connect them with real help before a crisis escalates. That kind of early intervention can change lives, and it's an important step toward making sure our campuses are safer, more supportive places for every student."