A cross-systems approach to strengthening all child– and youth– serving programs throughout the city.

Emotional and mental health are essential to our overall well-being, helping us to achieve our goals, form meaningful relationships, take pleasure in activities, and enhance our physical health. The Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative (CCSI) partners with families, youth, government agencies, and community providers in NYC to ensure mental, behavioral, and emotional health needs are met while addressing socioeconomical barriers to well-being. Understanding the barriers and gaps in services requires representation from all people, programs, and providers involved throughout the entire system. CCSI advocates for youth and family involvement in service planning, addresses multiagency challenges, and promotes system-wide change through Youth Advisory Councils, Borough Based Councils, and the Citywide Oversight Committee. CCSI is funded by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and administered by Vibrant Emotional Health. 

“Our members are committed to helping families by establishing relationships with community partners in all serving systems in New York City.” 

-Karmita Morgan-Randall, COC Family Co-Chair 

The Borough Based Councils (BBCs) are free, virtual, monthly meetings for parents and caregivers, youth, and service providers to share information and resources and to identify localized challenges and potential solutions within each NYC borough. 

The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a space by and for youth (ages 16-25) with a variety of lived experiences—mental and behavioral health, social services, juvenile justice, and others—to discuss challenges they are facing across service systems, build community, advocate for youth mental health, and inform policy and programming targeted at improving youth mental and emotional health. 

The YAC alternates between in-person and virtual meetings. Please reach out to [email protected] if you would like to be added to the YAC email outreach list to be notified of when meetings will occur. 

The Citywide Oversight Committee (COC) is a quarterly meeting where New York City and New York State child-serving agencies, Borough Based Council co-chairs, and Vibrant Emotional Health staff come together to find solutions to cross-system issues that have not been resolved at the borough level, assure that family and youth concerns are represented in efforts to improve the system of care in NYC, and to share resources and information about child-serving systems throughout NYC. 

Cinematic image of a conference meeting. Business people sitting in a room listening to the motivator coach. Representation of a Self growth and improvement special event

If you, your organization, or a parent/youth/caregiver in your life wish to join this impactful community, please sign up for our listserv by filling out this form: CCSI Borough Based Council + Youth Advisory Council Interest Form – Fill out form. Additionally, see our calendar for upcoming meetings and events to attend. 

September 2026 Calendar

Sept. 11, 2026 – Bronx BBC

Sept. 14, 2026 – Staten Island BBC (Shift due to Labor Day)

Sept. 18, 2026 – Queens BBC

Sept. 25, 2026 – Brooklyn BBC

Sept. 28, 2026 – Manhattan BBC

For questions or to get involved with CCSI, please reach out to [email protected]. 

Meet the Team!

Johnell Lawrence, MSW (he/him)  – Assistant Vice President, Community Engagement 

Emma Rice (she/her)  – Program Manager, Community Engagement 

Crystal Lopez (she/her)  – Family Peer Advocate, Community Engagement