Safe Schools Mohawk Valley

Safe Schools Mohawk Valley We are a unique school and community-based provider working with youth, families, schools, community.

On September 2, these team members celebrated their first anniversary here at Safe Schools Mohawk Valley. 👏 Adrian Alesa...
09/04/2026

On September 2, these team members celebrated their first anniversary here at Safe Schools Mohawk Valley.

👏 Adrian Alesandro
👏 Selena Mathews
👏 Tiffany Szeliga

Thank you for your dedication, heart, and hard work in supporting our students. Cheers to the year ahead! 💙

As many families in the Mohawk Valley are getting ready to head back to school, here's a reminder that kids often need t...
09/03/2026

As many families in the Mohawk Valley are getting ready to head back to school, here's a reminder that kids often need time to adjust.

The first few weeks of school can bring big emotions, new routines, separation anxiety, and lots of testing boundaries. Those behaviors don't make a child "bad." They make them human.

Children are learning how to manage emotions, navigate change, and build new routines. A little extra patience, consistency, and encouragement can go a long way.

What's one thing you do to help make the transition back to school a little easier?

September often feels like a fresh start. Whether you're getting ready for a new school year, returning to a routine, or...
09/01/2026

September often feels like a fresh start. Whether you're getting ready for a new school year, returning to a routine, or simply turning the page to a new month, you don't have to do everything all at once.

This month, try setting intentions instead of expectations:

🧽 Leave room for imperfect days.
✏️ Start small, stay consistent.
💬 Ask for help before you're overwhelmed.
⏰ Take a short walk when your mind feels full.
🎒 Pack your schedule with breathing room.

Small, intentional choices can make a big difference for your mental well-being. Which intention are you taking into September? 💛

🍎📚 As many students head back to school this week, it's normal to feel a mix of excitement, nerves, and uncertainty.When...
08/31/2026

🍎📚 As many students head back to school this week, it's normal to feel a mix of excitement, nerves, and uncertainty.

When things feel overwhelming, try focusing on what you can control instead of everything you can't.

You can't control teacher decisions, assignments, or what other people think. But you can control your routine, how you prepare, asking for help when you need it, and how you respond to challenges.

Small actions can make a big difference.

08/28/2026

🚨 Congratulations to our 2026 Urban Leadership Institute First Responder Academy graduates! 🎓

On August 27th, we celebrated an incredible group of students who completed this program and are ready to lead in their communities. A huge thank you to our students, families, staff, sponsors, and first-responder agencies who made ULI 2026 a success — this achievement wouldn't be possible without you.

We're proud of what these young leaders have accomplished! 👏

Catch Anne on Talk of the Town - Utica NY: Safe Schools Mohawk Valley CEO Anne Lansing discusses Mental Health Challenge...
08/28/2026

Catch Anne on Talk of the Town - Utica NY: Safe Schools Mohawk Valley CEO Anne Lansing discusses Mental Health Challenges for Children as School Year Begins

"This is the time of year when everybody starts getting anxious, even if you're not a kid anymore. The end of the summer, we all have it in our head, it's time to go back to school. We are all feeling that... In the beginning, it's dealing with all that anxiety."

We know as adults what to do when we're having an off day. You might say to somebody, "I'm not feeling 100% today," and that's letting the other person know, whereas kids don't know how to do that. We talk a lot about Where are you feeling it in your body?'... We tell kids, "When you start to feel that feeling, what are some things you can do?"

Catch Anne's full Talk of the Town interview at https://wutqfm.com/safe-schools-mohawk-valley-ceo-anne-lansing-discusses-mental-health-challenges-for-children-as-school-year-begins/

We are incredibly grateful to Mayor Mike Galime and The City of Utica, NY, for their generous support and contribution, ...
08/28/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Mayor Mike Galime and The City of Utica, NY, for their generous support and contribution, helping make our 2026 Urban Leadership Institute: First Responder Academy a successful program for our participating students.

Their recognition for “Investing in the Future” of our kids is so very deserved!

We are so proud of our 2026 Urban Leadership Institute: First Responder Academy graduates. We look forward to sharing mo...
08/28/2026

We are so proud of our 2026 Urban Leadership Institute: First Responder Academy graduates. We look forward to sharing more about this year's event!

08/28/2026

This week, the Mohawk Valley Health System EMS Service trained our ULI students on EMT skills, and they became CPR-certified! What a great skill to carry with them through life and into their future careers. 🎓

08/27/2026

What does a day at SSMV look like? 🌟 Our staff works closely with students, families, and schools to break down barriers to learning. This month's spotlight is on Makenna Taylor, Youth Engagement Specialist with the Resiliency Project, Rome City School District Primary Schools!

Makenna has been with the SSMV team for 2 years (this July!) and is here to share what her typical day looks like, what inspires her, and why she loves being part of the Safe Schools' mission.

⭐ What does a typical workday look like for you?
"Each day can be very different depending on how many schools I am going to that day."
"However, on a typical day I am in one or more schools, meeting with and providing services to current and also past students if necessary."
"I also participate in meetings with the school and work closely with the counseling staff to best support students."
"Most days I also have initial home visits with my partner, to obtain consent forms to provide services to new cases!"

⭐ What do you find most rewarding about your work with students?
"I love that I am able to provide a safe and comforting atmosphere for students that need it. I am so thankful that I can be a positive person in their lives!"

⭐ What's a favorite project or event you've taken part in while working with SSMV?
"This year during state testing exams, I worked on a positivity project with one of the site coordinators. For this project, we wrote something motivational on a sticky note to put on each student's locker when they were taking the exam, to ensure they knew we were cheering them on and so they felt confident walking into the exam. Separately, I created a project for each of my students, spelling out their name with an affirmation word for each letter attached to a pencil that they could use. The students loved this!"

⭐ What's one thing you wish more people knew about the work SSMV does?
"I wish people knew how much of a positive impact safe schools can provide. Students' needs are not always met in every aspect, but SSMV workers can support where each student needs. I am so thankful to be a part of such an amazing, impactful company!"


Utica City School District

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Downtown Utica, NY
13501

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+13157337768

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