A Comprehensive Four-Course Dual Enrollment Curriculum Focused on the Behavioral Health and Wellness Professions

Grow Your Own Behavioral Health Pathway

The Grow Your Own (GYO) Pathway from the New York State Mental Health Alliance builds a sustainable mental health workforce by introducing high school students to careers in school-based and community mental health. Through a sequenced, dual-credit course pathway, students gain early exposure to helping professions, earn college credit and credentials, and develop the skills needed to pursue postsecondary training in counseling, social work, psychology, and related fields. By aligning schools, higher education, and community partners, GYO helps districts Shift the Lift, creating a long-term pipeline rooted in their own communities.

NYSED GYO Program Highlights
Group of students standing in front of a Monroe Community College sign at State University of New York.

PILOT SCHOOLS

Geneva City Schools logo with a stylized 'G' in black and red above the name in bold black letters.
School district emblem for Seneca Falls Central School District, featuring a large S and F, a graduation cap, a graduation scroll, a fiddle, and a telescope, with the year 1939.
Lions Central School District logo featuring a lion's head and the text "Lions Central School District" and "#LYPRIDE"
Dundee Central School logo with a pirate character wearing a hat and eyepatch, and the school's name.
GYO Annual Report
Three students sitting at a conference table looking at a laptop screen, with notes and a pen in hand, in a classroom or meeting room with a coffee station in the background.
Cover page of a guide titled 'Introduction to Helping Professions I Instructor Guide' with geometric design elements in blue and yellow, and the logos of NYS Mental Health Alliance and NYS Managed Health Association.
Cover page of a guide titled 'Introduction to Helping Professions II, Instructor Guide' by NYS Mental Health Alliance, LLC, 2025.
Cover of the Advanced Studies in Behavioral Health Instructor Guide, published by NYS Mental Health Alliance, LLC in 2025.
Cover page of the 'Applied Behavioral Health and Professional Practice' Instructor Guide by NYS Mental Health Alliance, LLC, featuring a geometric gray pattern and NYS MHA logo.

How the GYO Pathway Works

1. Early Exposure in High School
Students begin with an introductory course that explores mental and behavioral health careers, helping professions, and systems of care. The focus is on awareness, career exploration, and building foundational skills.

2. Sequenced Course Progression
Students move through a four-course pathway: Introductory, Intermediate, Advanced, and Applied, designed to deepen knowledge, skill development, and career readiness over time.

3. Dual Credit & Credentials
Courses are aligned for dual-enrollment college credit and industry-recognized certifications where applicable, reducing barriers to postsecondary education.

4. Field Experience & Applied Learning
Upper-level courses include fieldwork, community engagement, and applied projects that connect classroom learning to real-world mental health settings.

5. Alignment with State Priorities
The pathway aligns with NYSED’s Portrait of a Graduate, Seal of Civic Readiness, and career readiness frameworks, supporting districts’ academic and workforce goals.

6. Local Pipeline, Long-Term Impact
By engaging students early and locally, GYO builds a homegrown workforce pipeline, increasing the likelihood that graduates return to serve their schools and communities.

District Implementation Snapshot: Grow Your Own (GYO)

What Districts Implement

  • A four-course, sequenced pathway in mental and behavioral health careers

  • Courses designed for grades 11–12 (with flexibility based on local needs)

  • Options for dual-enrollment college credit and aligned credentials

How It’s Delivered

  • Courses embedded within existing schedules (CTE, electives, or pathway models)

  • Instruction supported by NYSMHA-copyrighted curriculum, pacing guides, and materials

  • Field experiences and applied learning integrated into advanced courses

Support Provided

  • Curriculum onboarding and implementation guidance

  • Ongoing technical assistance and consultation

  • Alignment support with NYSED Portrait of a Graduate and Seal of Civic Readiness

  • Coordination with higher education and community partners

Staffing & Capacity

  • Designed for delivery by existing district staff with appropriate support

  • Flexible implementation models to match district size and capacity

  • Scalable from pilot cohorts to full pathway adoption

Funding & Sustainability

  • Eligible for aidable shared services through BOCES

  • Tuition costs for dual credit structured to be district-paid and aidable

  • Built as a long-term workforce pipeline, not a short-term program

Why Districts Choose GYO

  • Builds a local, homegrown mental health workforce pipeline

  • Strengthens career readiness and student engagement

  • Aligns academic, workforce, and community mental health priorities

Learn more