Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Contents
Community Residential Services
Sometimes it isn’t possible for children to continue living at home. Having some time apart may give the child and the family the chance to regain their strength and learn coping skills, so that they can live together again.
Community residential programs for children are located in communities as near to the child’s home as possible. The goal of these services is always to return children home as quickly as possible while still meeting their mental health needs. Parents are able to maintain custody of their children while they are in NYS Office of Mental Health residential programs.
Family Based Treatment
Family Based Treatment (FBT) is a family-like treatment program that provides services and supports to children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance who are likely to benefit from treatment in a small, more intensive family setting. Usually only one child is placed in the home of professional parents who are specially trained to work collaboratively with youth and their families to address mental health related barriers and to support the development of individual goals to return to their families as soon as possible. Children are referred to FBT because of their mental health needs, so parents do not have to give up legal custody of a child to make use of the program. In addition to the specially trained professional parents, children and families are assigned to a family specialist who works with the child, the professional parents, and family. The program’s goal is to return children home as quickly as possible, while still meeting their mental health needs.
Services include:
- Behavior management
- Independent living skills
- Counseling
- Family support services
- Medication monitoring
Referral information:
Referrals to FBT are made by psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment facilities, Board of Education, Committee on Special Education, Administration for Children’s Services, and community-based mental health providers through CSPOA.
Who can get services?
- Children between the ages of 5-18 years
- Children with a serious emotional disturbance
- The child is at risk for being hospitalized, rehospitalized, or requiring residential placement.
For more information, contact CSPOA:
1-888-CSPOA-58 (1-888-277-6258)
Children's Community Residences
Community Residences (CR) are small therapeutic group homes that serve up to 8 children who live with and are supervised by specially trained staff. Children are placed in a residence as close to their homes as possible. The program works with both the child and the family/caregivers to develop skills, supports and capacities that will result in the youth returning to their family or preparing for independent living. While living in a community residence, children participate in the life of the community around them, attending neighborhood schools and taking part in local recreation and cultural programs.
Services include:
- Structured daily living activities
- Problem solving skills training
- Behavioral management
- Clinical services ( provided by local mental health programs )
Who can get services?
- Children between the ages of 5-18 years
- Children with a serious emotional disturbance.
- The child is at risk for being hospitalized, rehospitalized, or requiring residential placement.
For more information, contact CSPOA:
1-888-CSPOA-58 (1-888-277-6258)
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