Oneida County Department of Mental Health

Oneida County Awarded Two Mental Health Training Designations | Oneida County February 25, 2026 - Oneida County has been awarded two training designations that will strengthen crisis response throughout the county. The Oneida County

New Oneida County Team Strengthens Threat Assessment Efforts Through National Training & Best Practices
Mental Health Department & Sheriff’s Office Collaboration Offers Communities Preventative Strategies
A new threat assessment management team comprised of the Department of Mental Health and Sheriff’s Office is strengthening Oneida County’s approach to violence prevention and public safety through nationally-recognized best practices and training.

“Violence prevention is most effective when public safety and mental health work side by side,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “This collaboration between our Department of Mental Health and the Sheriff’s Office reflects Oneida County’s commitment to proactive, prevention-focused strategies that protect our communities while supporting individuals before a crisis escalates.”
The Oneida County Threat Assessment Management (OCTAM) team utilizes a multidisciplinary framework to help schools, businesses and community partners identify concerning behaviors early, assess potential risk and connect individuals to appropriate supports before violence occurs.

The team’s operations are aligned with nationally- recognized best practices and supported by training and technical assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This prevention-focused approach reflects national standards emphasizing early intervention, information sharing and collaborative problem-solving. Oneida County’s threat assessment operations align with New York State Executive Order 18 and related guidance requiring schools to incorporate threat assessment and management protocols into comprehensive emergency response and safety plans as a best-practice approach to violence prevention.

"Threat assessment and management is a task that no agency can complete alone,” said Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol. “We are protecting our community by bringing together law enforcement, the Department of Mental Health and our community partners, emphasizing early intervention, information sharing and collaboration, preventing and responding to concerns before they escalate."

As part of this effort, Oneida County promotes access to DHS-sponsored training and resources, including evidence-based threat evaluation and reporting programs available at no cost to eligible organizations and school districts. These resources are designed to help institutions build internal capacity while remaining consistent with legal, ethical and privacy protections.

The County is taking a deliberate, multi-phase approach, beginning with schools and youth-focused environments, where early prevention efforts can have the greatest impact, before scaling to the public and business sectors. Oneida County encourages schools, employers, faith-based organizations and other community entities interested in implementing or strengthening threat assessment practices to contact its Department of Mental Health for guidance, recommendations and referrals to available federal training opportunities.

For more information, or to request guidance on threat assessment implementation, please contact the Oneida County Department of Mental Health at [email protected] or 315-786-3660.

📱 Need Help? Oneida County Cares is Here! 💛

The Oneida County Cares App makes it easy to access local resources for food, housing, health, recovery, and more—all in one place. Whether you’re looking for support for yourself or someone you care about, this app connects you with help in just a few taps.

✅ Quick access to local services
✅ Updated community resources
✅ Easy to use

Download the app today and discover the support available in Oneida County!

The Crisis Stabilization Center is now open, offering compassionate, short-term support during mental health crises.
📍 Utica, NY | 📞 315-520-7802
Because care can’t wait.

Helio Health: January Grief Support Groups

Start the year with support


Helio Health is offering January Grief Support Groups in Utica that are open to anyone navigating a loss. Join in person or online:


In-person at Insights (500 Whitesboro St., Utica):
• Grief Support – Wed, Jan 7 | 9:30–11:00 AM
• Loss of Peer – Tue, Jan 13 | 6:00–7:30 PM
• Pet Loss – Thu, Jan 15 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM
• Grief Support – Wed, Jan 21 | 9:30–11:00 AM


Virtual sessions (online only):
• Grief Support (Teens Only) – Mon, Jan 19 | 2:30–3:30 PM
• Grief Support – Tue, Jan 27 | 6:00–7:30 PM

Register for a virtual session: https://bit.ly/3Mggyor

Connect, share, and start the year with care! ️

Start the New Year right! 🚶‍♂️

Join us for Wellness Wednesday, this Wednesday, January 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Utica University Nexus Center.

Come for a walk at the Nexus Center, have your blood pressure taken, learn about local resources and support our pharmacy team to celebrate National Pharmacist Day!

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The Crisis Stabilization Center is here to help. If you’re going through a mental health or substance use related crisis, you are not alone. The center is a safe place where people can get short-term support to feel calmer and more in control. Our goal is to help you feel better and keep the crisis from getting worse.

We offer 24/7 walk-in services for individuals of all ages experiencing a behavioral health crisis to be supported by skilled and compassionate staff in a home-like environment. Our services are voluntary and short term and will provide you with a plan to help you beyond your stay.

New App Section: Bridges to Belonging

We’re excited to share a new addition to the Oneida County Department of Mental Health’s OC C.A.R.E.S. smartphone application: Bridges to Belonging!

This new section was created to help individuals across Oneida County find meaningful ways to connect, grow, and thrive.

Bridges to Belonging highlights non-traditional services and programs that support overall wellness through:

Social interaction opportunities
Community activities and free local events
Educational programs and hobby-based groups

Whether you're looking to meet new people, explore a new interest, or simply find healthy ways to cope and stay engaged, this resource is designed to help you build a sense of belonging and support your journey toward wellness.

We believe that mental health is deeply connected to community, connection, and purpose. This new section offers practical ways to foster all three.

To explore Bridges to Belonging, simply open the app and navigate to the Services and Providers section.

If you know of a service, program, or resource not currently represented in the app, please let us know by emailing [email protected].

Grief is heavy — you don’t have to navigate it alone. 🧡

This month, our Utica Grief Support Groups offer supportive spaces to connect and share. Some sessions are in person and others are virtual — see details below.

📍 In-person at Insights (500 Whitesboro St., Utica):
• Grief Support – Tue, Dec 9, 6–7:30 PM
• Navigating Grief During the Holidays – Thu, Dec 11, 11 AM–1 PM
• Grief Support – Wed, Dec 17, 9:30–11 AM

💻 Virtual sessions (online only):
• Grief Support – Tue, Dec 23, 6–7:30 PM
• How to Cope with Grief When Your Caregivers Are Grieving (Teens Only) – Fri, Dec 26, 1–3 PM

🔗 Register for a virtual session: https://bit.ly/3Mggyor

You’re welcome to join us — whether this season feels heavy, complicated, or somewhere in between. 🧡

Join us tomorrow. Oneida County is paying the admission for veterans and active military.

Oneida County Sponsors Award-Winning Film “My Dead Friend Zoe” for Veterans & Active Military | Oneida County October 23, 2025 - Oneida County is sponsoring a special screening of the movie "My Dead Friend Zoe" at the Stanley Theatre on November 15 at 2 p.m. The County