St. John’s University has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to enhance the services offered by its Center for Psychological Services, located in the Seton Complex in Flushing, NY. Established in 1986, the center provides affordable mental health care to community residents while also offering training opportunities for graduate students in the University’s Clinical Psychology and School Psychology doctoral programs.
The one-time grant, with the possibility of renewal, will enable the center to hire a New York State-licensed psychologist and a doctoral fellow who are fluent in Spanish and can offer culturally informed therapy services. This is especially important in Queens, NY, which is known for its cultural diversity.
Dr. Tara Rooney, Director of the Center for Psychological Services, emphasized the importance of cultural sensitivity, diversity in healthcare staff, and language in providing effective mental health care. She stated, “The need to expand the center’s services to support the Queens community better has never been more urgent.”
The center serves a large portion of the local community, with nearly 60% of its patients coming from households earning less than $30,000 annually. Additionally, around 60% of patients are children. Services, which include individual and group therapy, are provided by graduate students under the supervision of licensed faculty, ensuring both affordable care and valuable training for students. The center also offers free services to military members and their immediate families.
The grant is a significant step towards meeting the mental health needs of the Spanish-speaking community in Queens, a demographic the center has increasingly served. Dr. Rooney added that the center regularly fields requests for services from individuals who do not speak English as their primary language, underscoring the need for linguistically and culturally sensitive care.
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, named after the saint known for her dedication to helping New York City’s underserved communities, is committed to improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations. Since its founding, the Foundation has focused on bridging gaps in healthcare services and addressing the barriers that prevent access to care, particularly in underprivileged communities.
This grant is part of the Foundation’s broader initiative to support organizations that improve healthcare outcomes for diverse and underserved populations in New York State. The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation continues to inspire change with its generous support, having surpassed $1 billion in grants since its inception.
St. John’s University looks forward to expanding the reach of its Center for Psychological Services to better serve its community, thanks to this impactful grant.
