Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health has mobilized efforts to develop and support an early childhood system of care built on strong partnerships among parents and professionals across systems that serve young children (0-6 years of age) and their families. The Early Childhood System of Care encompasses principles of primary, secondary and tertiary care with services and supports available in pre-school, day-care and Head-Start settings and in community based mental health clinics, with a focus on the concept that promoting young children’s positive emotional, social and behavioral skills is key to ensuring children’s success in school and in life. For additional information and resources contact (914) 995-6377.
Westchester County proudly supports the School-Based Mental Health model. Westchester County school districts host over 50 School-Based Mental Health Satellite clinics run by local mental health agencies and licensed by The NYS Office of Mental Health. School-Based Satellite Clinics provide the full array of outpatient clinic services to youth and families in the convenience of their own school building. If you would like to learn more you can reach out to your school counselor or to the Children’s Mental Health Team at (914) 995-6377 or at .
For youth in need of special education services to meet their social-emotional needs; Westchester County school districts offer several types of educational programs that include mental health services. One category of program is the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) Licensed Day Treatment. Day Treatment programs provide comprehensive services for children who experience serious emotional challenges through supervised, planned activities and intensive child-staff interaction. Treatment is usually provided in a year-round, five-day-per-week program and is integrated with appropriate education services. Approval of the child's school district is required. In addition to OMH Day Treatment Programs, many school districts collaborate with mental health agencies to offer clinical services in the school setting.
Limited out of home services are provided by the New York State Office for Mental Health. Services include Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) and Community Residence settings.
To request out of home services call (914) 995-7458. Referral for out of home services is made through the Department of Community Mental Health Children’s Single Point of Access (SPOA) application.
The Children’s SPOA aims to ensure timely and appropriate access to intensive services for children at risk of multiple hospitalizations and out-of-home treatment. The Children’s SPOA Coordinator provides case consultation, systems navigation, referral and linkage to mental health supports and services.
There is no wrong call to the Children’s SPOA. The Children’s Mental Health Team is happy to field calls from any family or community member that is seeking mental health supports or consultation for Westchester County youth. The Children’s SPOA Coordinator can be reached at (914) 995-5352.
For youth in need of more intensive services, a CSPOA Application can be submitted for review by the SPOA committee and linkage to appropriate supports. For more information or to request a CSPOA Application please call (914) 995-5352 or email .
What Kinds of Services Can the Children’s SPOA Offer?
SPOA services are for everyone – regardless of income, insurance, or other eligibility requirements. Examples of services accessed through the SPOA are listed below. Specific services recommended by the SPOA vary based on a youth’s individual needs and eligibility.
- Wraparound Meetings
- Outpatient Individual and Family Therapy
- Family and Youth Peer Support Services
- Crisis Stabilization
- Care Management
- Community Based In-Home Supports
- Cross-Systems Unit Planning
- Children’s Day Treatment Programs
- Community Residence
- Partial Hospitalization
- Residential Treatment Facility
- Acute Inpatient Hospitalization
Out-of-Home Placement Services
Limited out-of-home services are provided by the New York State Office for Mental Health. Services include Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) and Community Residence settings. Referral for out-of-home services is made through the Department of Community Mental Health Children’s Single Point of Access (SPOA) application. For more information or to request an application, please contact our Children’s SPOA Coordinator at (914) 995-5352 or email .
For more information on New York State Children’s Medicaid services and the New York State Office of Mental Health services for Children and their Families, please use the links below:
Mental health and mental illness exist on a continuum. Mental health reflects how we think, feel, and act as we face life’s situations. It is how we look at ourselves, our lives and the people in our lives. It is how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
When children are emotionally healthy, they feel good about themselves, enjoy having friends, and face life’s challenges with enthusiasm, creativity and optimism. However, this is rarely an easy task for children or families.
As children develop, they must learn to get along with peers and adults in a variety of contexts, understand social situations, manage feelings, control impulses, focus for extended periods of time on school work, deal with cultural and societal pressures, and take increasing responsibility for themselves, all while developing a solid sense of self-esteem. Unexpected bumps in the road of life, ongoing stress, or traumatic experiences can interfere with these developmental tasks, and children may develop emotional or behavioral responses that do not serve them well.
Because children are still developing, their range of responses can be far greater than that for adults, which can cause concern for caregivers. If left unaddressed, these responses can take on a life of their own, and develop into mental health problems, even after the stressors go away. And even under the best of circumstances, children may experience mental health challenges, which can happen at varying levels of intensity and duration.
The good news is that children’s mental health issues are very treatable. Sometimes this means giving children a safe place to talk, play, and interact; sometimes it means helping children develop specific skills; sometimes it means taking medication, or helping families address stressors. Invariably, effective children’s mental health treatment actively involves families, and is actively driven by their understanding of their child and his or her needs.