Our Partners
CUNY SPS launched the Academy with funding from the Mayor’s Office of Community Mental Health and the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity in Spring 2021. This funding makes it possible for the Academy to offer a range of free programs to NYC social service providers. The Academy reflects our shared commitment to strengthening community-based solutions for related social, economic, and behavioral health inequalities. We build on the lessons of Connections to Care (C2C) to uplift the unique ways social service providers can help advance more equitable and effective behavioral health care.
The Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health
The Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health (OCMH) is committed to improving mental health outcomes for all New Yorkers, so that more people can get the mental health support they need to live healthy and content lives. We coordinate the development of citywide policies and strategies to fill critical gaps in mental healthcare. Plus, we work with City agencies to reduce barriers to mental health care for underserved communities by prioritizing equity, racial justice, and cultural responsiveness. We adopt a community-centered and strength-based approach that recognizes diverse perspectives, lived experiences, resilience, and the unique needs of New Yorkers.
Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity
The Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity) helps the City apply evidence and innovation to reduce poverty and increase equity. We work to improve the systems of government by advancing the use of research, data and design in program and policy development, service delivery, and budget decisions. Our work includes analyzing existing anti-poverty approaches, developing new strategies, facilitating the sharing of data across City agencies, and rigorously assessing the impact of key initiatives. NYC Opportunity manages a discrete fund and works collaboratively with City agencies to design, test and oversee new programs and digital products. NYC Opportunity is active in making equity a core governing principle across all agencies.
NYC Opportunity also produces research and analysis of poverty and social conditions, including its influential annual Poverty Measure, which provides a more accurate and comprehensive picture of poverty in New York City than the federal rate.
CUNY School of Professional Studies
As New York’s leader in online education since 2006, the CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS) offers the most online bachelor’s and master’s degree options at the City University of New York, and serves as the University’s only undergraduate all-transfer college. With 26 degrees and numerous other non-degree and grant-funded workplace learning programs, CUNY SPS meets the needs of adults who wish to finish a bachelor’s degree, progress from an associate’s degree, earn a master’s degree or certificate in a specialized field, and advance in the workplace or change careers. Consistently ranked highly by U.S. News & World Report for its online offerings, CUNY SPS has emerged as a nationwide leader in online education. The School’s renowned and affordable online programs—which offer in-state tuition to all students regardless of where they live—ensure that busy working adults may fulfill their educational goals on their own time and schedule.
Created at the same time as CUNY SPS, the Office of Professional Education and Workplace Learning (PEWL) work as consultants with agencies and organizations to design custom workplace learning programs and help them achieve their goals. PEWL has expertise in research-based learning practices, development and implementation, as well as organizational learning needs and change management initiatives.
Supporters
The Academy gratefully acknowledges private funding from the MJS Foundation.