Listen to this articleTwo Long Island behavioral health organizations have received funding from New York State.
The awards are part of $3.5 million in conditional start-up funding from the state’s Office of Mental Health (OMH) to establish 13 new certified community behavioral health clinics. The clinics are to be designed to provide integrated mental health and substance use care and help close gaps in coverage for New Yorkers regardless of their ability to pay.
On Long Island, $265,000 in start-up funding was awarded to Federation of Organization, which serves Suffolk County, and to Family & Children’s Association in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
“Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics provide a place where New Yorkers can access integrated substance use, mental health and physical health services in one convenient location,” OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said in a news release about the funding.
The clinics are designed to offer access to 24-hour mobile crisis teams, emergency crisis intervention and crisis stabilization. Other services include screening and assessments, patient-centered treatment planning and outpatient mental health and substance use services.
The new clinics will triple the number of centers, expanding access to trauma-informed care for individuals experiencing mental health or addiction issues.
These facilities also help connect individuals to outpatient primary care services and any other specialized services that may be needed, offering access to screening and monitoring, targeted case management; psychiatric rehabilitation services, peer and family support services, and intensive community-based mental health care for veterans and members of the armed services.