South Bronx Incubator
Testing What Works, Where It Matters Most
Why the South Bronx
District 9, in the South Bronx, is one of the most under-resourced and challenged school districts in New York City.
High levels of poverty
Limited mental health staff (sometimes 1 social worker for thousands of students)
Students facing compounded barriers outside the classroom
We believe that if a model can prove effective here, it can work anywhere. That’s why District 9 is the launch site for our first incubator.
Why This Matters
The Incubator is more than a local experiment - it’s a proof point for systems change.
If models succeed in the South Bronx, they demonstrate readiness for citywide scale.
Insights from this district will inform the NYC School Mental Health Blueprint, shaping how the city invests in prevention.
Funders who support this work are powering solutions with the potential to transform not just one district, but the entire NYC system.
What We’re Building
The South Bronx Incubator is a living lab for school-based mental health innovation.
Trust-based partnerships with the Superintendent and school leaders form the foundation.
Prevention-first pilots are tested in real classrooms, tailored to the needs expressed directly by schools.
Rigorous evaluation ensures only the most effective approaches move forward.
Your support fuels innovation that transforms school mental health.
Join us in building a smarter, prevention-first system for NYC students.