John Ben Snow Memorial Trust Invests $10,000 to Help Oswego Health ACT Team Bring Community-Based Mental Health Care Directly to Individuals

OSWEGO –  For individuals living with serious mental illness, getting the right care isn’t always as simple as making an appointment and walking into an office. That’s where Oswego Health’s Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team plays a critical role—bringing a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals directly into the community to provide intensive, person-centered support where individuals live, work and spend their time.

Now, that work is receiving additional support. The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust has awarded the Oswego Health Foundation a $10,000 grant to help offset the cost of an essential vehicle used by the ACT Team to deliver services throughout Oswego and Cayuga counties.

ACT is designed for adults with severe and persistent mental illness who may need a higher level of support than traditional outpatient services can provide. The team serves as a comprehensive, community-based resource, coordinating a wide range of services rather than requiring individuals to navigate multiple programs on their own. Oswego Health’s ACT Team provides support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The multidisciplinary team works directly with individuals to develop individualized plans and provides services in homes, neighborhoods, workplaces and other community settings. Services can include medication management, counseling, psychiatry, physical health monitoring, substance use support, family education, housing and vocational assistance, and help connecting with other essential resources.

“The ACT Team is different because it meets people where they are,” said Margaret Barclay, Executive Director of the Oswego Health Foundation. “For someone who is struggling with serious mental illness, traditional office-based care may not be enough. The ACT Team brings the expertise, consistency and support directly into that person’s life, helping them navigate the challenges that can make it difficult to remain healthy, safe and connected to their community.”

The team currently is certified to serve up to 68 individuals, with clients receiving frequent, in-person support based on their individual needs. Many individuals served by ACT have experienced repeated psychiatric hospitalizations or have struggled to engage in traditional outpatient care. The goal is to provide the support necessary to help individuals remain stable in the community and avoid unnecessary hospitalization.

A reliable vehicle is therefore not simply a convenience for the ACT Team—it is an essential part of how care is delivered.

Team members use vehicles every day to travel to clients for medication management, therapy and wellness checks; respond to emerging needs; help individuals get to medical appointments and other important meetings; and assist with basic community living needs such as accessing pharmacies, grocery stores and benefits appointments. The team also uses transportation to provide wellness groups and community outings that support socialization, coping skills and independent living.

The ACT Team’s vehicles accumulate significant mileage and wear as staff travel throughout two counties and respond to the needs of clients in the community. The additional vehicle was needed to ensure the team could continue providing these services while meeting the requirements of a new position mandated by the New York State Office of Mental Health.

The nonprofit healthcare system ultimately purchased the vehicle using operating funds at a cost of $29,091, an unbudgeted expense that represented a significant investment for the behavioral health program. The $10,000 grant from the John Ben Snow Memorial Trust will help offset that expense and ease pressure on the behavioral health budget, allowing more of Oswego Health’s limited resources to remain focused on patient care, staffing and services for individuals living with serious mental illness.

“This generous support from the John Ben Snow Memorial Trust is an investment in much more than a vehicle—it is an investment in access, stability and the ability of our behavioral health team to meet people where they are,” Barclay said. “The ACT Team is often a safety net for individuals who may have limited supports or have struggled to find success with traditional models of care. We are incredibly grateful to the Trust for recognizing the importance of this work and helping us sustain a resource that has such a direct impact on the people we serve.”

The ACT Team is part of Oswego Health’s behavioral health services at the Lobdell Center for Mental Health & Wellness at Lakeview and works closely with primary care providers, specialists, care managers and community organizations to help individuals address the many factors that affect their health and stability.

At its core, the ACT model is about helping people remain connected—to care, to their community and to the supports they need to move forward.

“Behavioral health care doesn’t always happen inside four walls,” shared Jonathan L. Snow, President of the John Ben Snow Foundation and Memorial Trust. “Sometimes the most meaningful care happens at someone’s home, during a difficult moment in the community, or simply by having a familiar team show up when they need support. We’re proud that this grant helps make that possible.”

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About Oswego Health:
The mission of Oswego Health is to provide accessible, quality care and improve the health of residents throughout Central New York. As a nonprofit healthcare system established in 1881, Oswego Health is proud to be one of Oswego County’s largest private employers. More than 1,500+ employees spread throughout its 25 campuses, work for the Oswego Health system, which includes the 132-bed community Oswego Hospital, a 32-bed psychiatric acute-care facility with multiple outpatient behavioral health service locations, The Manor at Seneca Hill, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility, and Springside at Seneca Hill, an independent retirement community.  The health system also operates Oswego Health Home Care, the only hospital-based certified home healthcare agency in the County, as well as two outpatient centers, including the Fulton Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, physical therapy, and occupational health services, and the Central Square Medical Center, offering urgent care, lab, medical imaging, and physical therapy services. In addition, the healthcare system includes Oswego Health Medical Practice, a multi-specialty medical group offering the community accessible, high-quality healthcare. 300+ physicians and advanced practice providers offer an extensive array of services across CNY, including primary care and specialty care in orthopedics, cardiology, ENT, gastroenterology, breast care, general surgery, urology, pulmonology, and bariatrics; for more information about Oswego Health, visit www.oswegohealth.org.