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MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF ERIE COUNTY FOUNDATION INC
BUFFALO, NY · EIN 161423317 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Micro (<$100K) · mhawny.org
revenue
$79K
expenses
$50K
net assets
$805K
employees
0
program ratio
100%
mission · from form 990

SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF ERIE COUNTY.

profile · synthesized from sources

Mental Health Advocates of Western New York (MHA WNY) is a nonprofit organization providing direct mental health services, peer support, and advocacy across Erie County. It offers programs including pro bono legal services, youth and adult peer support groups, in-school emotional skills training, and support for military families. The organization serves children, teens, adults, and families through community-based and virtual programming.

named programs · 10 · from sources

What they call their work

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Trains and supports volunteers to advocate for children in the family court system.
Emotional Skills Training (BEST)
In-school and virtual programs for students pre-K through 12 to build emotional regulation and mental wellness skills.
Family Support
Provides peer support and navigation assistance for families dealing with youth mental health challenges.
Information & Referral Service
Connects individuals to mental health treatment and community resources.
Operation COM (Children of the Military)
Supports military families through deployment and reunification with creative programming and peer support.
Peer Support Groups
Offers peer-led support groups for youth, 20-somethings, adults, survivors of sexual assault, and those living with OCD, psychosis, or substance use.
Pro Bono Legal Services
Provides civil legal services to individuals with a mental health diagnosis.
Trusted Chat Line
Anonymous, confidential warmline operated by Youth Peer Advocates for youth experiencing emotional concerns or stress.
Workplace Mental Well-Being (Mindset)
Programs to support employee mental health and work-life balance.
Youth Peer Advocates (YPA)
Trained youth peers (ages 18-30) with lived mental health experience offer non-crisis support via the Trusted Chat Line and in-person programs.
activities · 12 groups

What they do

  • Mental Health Education and Awareness 2 activities
    • Offering workplace mental well-being programs
      Provides training and support programs for employees and employers to promote work-life balance and improve mental health in the workplace.
    • Providing non-clinical mental health services and community education
      Offers referrals, workshops, support groups, and community education training to promote mental well-being and recovery outside of clinical settings.
  • Direct Mental Health Counseling and Support Services 2 activities
    • Operating an information and referral service for mental health and substance abuse support
      Connects individuals to mental health treatment, support services, and community resources in Western New York through a comprehensive resource directory and direct assistance.
    • Supporting over 30,000 individuals annually with mental health services
      Provides mental health support and services to more than 30,000 individuals each year across various programs and initiatives.
  • Patient and Family Support Services 1 activity
    • Delivering child and family support services
      Assists families in navigating the mental healthcare system and provides peer support to promote stability and access to care.
  • Peer-Led Mental Health Support Groups 1 activity
    • Delivering peer support groups for youth, young adults, parents, and other adults
      Offers in-person, virtual, and hybrid peer support groups for youth (ages 13–18), young adults (18–28), parents, and adults dealing with mental health challenges, including specialized groups for OCD, psychosis, substance use co-occurring with mental illness, and survivors of sexual assault.
  • Youth Development and Support Services 1 activity
    • Employing credentialed youth peer advocates
      Utilizes trained Youth Peer Advocates with lived experience to provide support, mentorship, and advocacy for other youth facing emotional or behavioral challenges.
  • Mental Health Research and Services Funding 1 activity
    • Funding and supporting the Mental Health Association of Erie County
      Provides financial and operational support to the Mental Health Association of Erie County as its foundation entity.
  • Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs 1 activity
    • Implementing school-based social-emotional learning and prevention programs
      Delivers evidence-based emotional skills training, prevention, and early intervention curricula in schools and virtually for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, including adapted distance learning versions of programs like Teaching Kids to Care and Too Good for Violence.
  • Creative Arts Therapy Programs 1 activity
    • Operating Operation COM for military families
      Since 2009, has provided supportive programming for military families in Western New York to manage deployment-related stress through creative expression, play-based activities, and connection-building with other military families.
  • Family and Juvenile Legal Defense 1 activity
    • Providing Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for children in family court
      Trains and deploys CASA volunteers to represent the best interests of children involved in the family court system.
  • 24/7 Crisis and Warmline Support Services 1 activity
    • Providing anonymous warmline support for youth
      Operates an anonymous and confidential warmline staffed by Youth Peer Advocates to support youth experiencing emotional concerns or stress in non-crisis situations.
  • Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
    • Providing pro bono civil legal services for individuals with mental health diagnoses
      Offers free legal representation and advocacy in civil matters to individuals living with mental health conditions.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Offering online mental health and substance use screening tools
      Provides accessible, self-administered screening tests for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, psychosis, eating disorders, addiction, and general mental health concerns for youth and adults.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$79K
Contributions & grants$55K70%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$24K30%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$50K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$40K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$845K
Cash$1K
Investments$844K
Liabilities$40K
Net assets$805K
Liquid reserves202.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +140.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MELINDA DUBOIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 1 $137K
board members · 9
  • ALEXANDER VANDENBERGH — DIRECTOR
  • BRENDAN M HARRINGTON — PRESIDENT
  • CHRISTINE LANGENFELD — DIRECTOR
  • CHRISTINE PEARL — DIRECTOR
  • ERIN MOSS — DIRECTOR
  • LAUREN BAYNES — DIRECTOR
  • SARAH KIRKE — DIRECTOR
  • SUZANNE FURLANI — SECRETARY
  • TOM BAKER — TREASURER
relationships · 21

Who they work with

  • BestSelf Behavioral Health Partner — Collaborative partner in the WE ARE HOPE initiative providing mental health support services.
  • Buffalo Urban League Buffalo H.O.P.E Partner — Collaborative partner in the WE ARE HOPE initiative providing mental health support services.
  • Crisis Services Partner — Collaborative partner in the WE ARE HOPE initiative providing mental health support services.
  • Dog Ears Bookstore & Cafe Partner — Host site for the Teen, Tweens & Life Changes Group in Buffalo, NY.
  • Endeavor Health Services Partner — Collaborative partner in the WE ARE HOPE initiative providing mental health support services.
  • Erie County Department of Mental Health Partner — Collaborative partner in the WE ARE HOPE initiative providing mental health support services.
  • Highmark BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York Partner — Sponsor of the WE ARE HOPE resource directory initiative.
  • Hope Rises Partner — Collaborative partner in the WE ARE HOPE initiative providing mental health support services.
  • Horizon Health Services Partner — Collaborative partner in the WE ARE HOPE initiative providing mental health support services.
  • Jericho Road Community Health Center Partner — Collaborates with Jericho Road Community Health Center through shared leadership and financial oversight
  • Laura Zimmerman Partner — BEST Education Specialist Coordinator who coordinates program delivery and school enrollment.
  • Mental Health Advocates of WNY Network — Operating name used by the organization for public outreach and programming.
  • Mental Health America Inc. Network — Collaborates with Mental Health America Inc. in offering mental health screening tools.
  • Mental Health Association of Erie County Partner — Supported by the foundation
  • New York State Office of Mental Health Government — Collaborative partner in the WE ARE HOPE initiative providing mental health support services.
  • Pilgrim – St. Luke’s United Church of Christ Partner — Host site for the 20-Something Group in Buffalo, NY.
  • Pilgrim – St. Luke’s United Church of Christ Partner — Hosts the 20-Something Group for ages 18–28 at its facility in Buffalo, NY.
  • Spectrum Health Buffalo H.O.P.E Partner — Collaborative partner in the WE ARE HOPE initiative providing mental health support services.
  • United Way Partner — Offers workplace giving options through United Way partnerships.
  • WNYCPC Community Services Partner — Host site for the in-person Teen Support Group in Amherst, NY.
  • YOUTH POWER! Of Families Together in NYS Partner — Administers the New York State Youth Peer Advocate Credential that Youth Peer Advocates receive.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Early Detection Through Screening
    methodology: early_detection_and_intervention
    By implementing mental health screenings as a routine early identification tool, we increase the likelihood of timely treatment engagement and recovery, because early detection reduces symptom escalation and normalizes help-seeking behavior.
  • Peer-Lived Experience Model
    methodology: peer_support
    By engaging trained individuals with lived mental health experience as peer advocates and supporters, we build trust, foster connection, and improve recovery outcomes among youth and adults, because shared experience enhances empathy, reduces isolation, and inspires hope and self-advocacy.
  • Social-Emotional Learning in Early Education
    methodology: social-emotional_learning
    By delivering evidence-based, interactive social-emotional learning curricula in classrooms, we build foundational emotional regulation and prosocial skills in children, because early skill development reduces aggression and supports long-term mental well-being.
  • System Navigation and Advocacy
    methodology: advocacy-based_support
    By providing advocacy and system navigation support, we improve access to mental health resources and reduce barriers to care, because individuals facing complex systems are more likely to engage when guided by knowledgeable, supportive peers or advocates.
  • Therapeutic Creative Expression
    methodology: creative_expression_therapeutic_programming
    By using expressive writing, creative arts, and play-based activities as structured interventions, we support mental health recovery and resilience, because creative expression provides accessible, non-clinical outlets for processing trauma, managing stress, and building emotional skills.