Community Supports and Services
The following mental health services and supports are available to help children and families.
988
988 is a free and confidential 24/7 service that can help you find care for mental health and substance abuse concerns.
Services include:
- Counseling
- Suicide prevention
- Crisis intervention
- Peer support
- Referrals for care
- Assistance in connecting to the referral
- Follow-up services
Early Childhood Mental Health Network
The NYC Early Childhood Mental Health Network is a group of seven early childhood clinics located throughout the city. These clinics offer specialized mental health treatment for children from birth to age five and for their families. The clinics also provide ongoing support and access to family peer advocates.
Services include:
- Screening and assessments
- Individual, family and group therapies
- Play therapy
- Psychoeducation
- Peer support services
- Referrals to community resources
For more information, contact 988.
Non- Medicaid Care Coordination
Youth ages 21 and younger who have serious emotional disturbance may qualify for care coordination. A youth is considered to have serious emotional disturbance if they have been diagnosed with a mental illness and have experienced functional limitations in the past 12 months due to the emotional disturbance. These limitations affect your ability to:
- Care for yourself, your family or your social relationships
- Control your actions
- Learn
Services include:
- A comprehensive assessment
- The development of an individual care plan
- Care coordination and health promotion
- Transitional care
- Individual and family support
- Referral to community and social support services
- Use of health information technology to find services
The Children's Single Point of Access screens applicants to determine who is eligible to receive services. For more information, call 347-396-7205.
Adolescent Skills Centers
Adolescent Skill Centers assist youth ages 16 to 21 who have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Services are designed to strengthen families and help youth to develop competencies and skills that promote economic self-sufficiency and personal growth. They include:
- Work training
- Academic enrichment
- Clinical support services
Youth who have been diagnosed as having a serious emotional disturbance can be referred directly to Adolescent Skills Centers.
For more information, contact 988.
Family and Youth Peer Support Programs
Family and Youth Peer Support (FYPS) services empower and support parents, caregivers, and children and youth from birth to age 24 experiencing social, emotional, developmental, substance use or behavioral challenges.
The Health Department funds a network of FYPS alliances (PDF) throughout New York City, with one alliance per borough. Each FYPS alliance consists of a lead organization (that coordinates the alliance) and several partner organizations. All lead and partner organizations employ family peer advocates and youth peer advocates who provide the following core services:
- Emotional support
- Advocacy and assistance to navigate child-serving systems
- Information on mental health conditions, services and family rights
- Referrals to appropriate services and resources
- Skills development
- Recreational activities
All FYPS services are free. Parents, caregivers, and children and youth may access these services directly or by referrals made from a family member, individual or organization.
To access FYPS services, contact 988.