This website provides links to support groups and resources for individuals in recovery, as well as information for their family and friends. Participation in these recovery programs is free.

Find information on:

• Recovery Centers
• Clubhouses
• Centers of Treatment Innovation
• Open Access Centers
• Peer Engagement Specialists
• Family Support Navigators
• Regional Addiction Resources Centers

NYS HopeLine, offers hope 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for alcoholism, drug abuse, and problem gambling. All calls are toll-free, anonymous, and confidential. The HopeLine is staffed by multi-lingual, masters level clinicians who provide information and referrals to service providers. 48 hours call back is available for follow-up if requested.

The Interagency Resolution Unit works to assist caregivers and individuals in receiving the most appropriate community-based or residential services; minimize delays in arranging services or placements, and resolves barriers that impede timely service delivery or placement. 

The Interagency Resolution Unit becomes involved ONLY after all program options and dispute resolution procedures have been exhausted at the local and regional levels, or if a caregiver feels their child's needs are not being met by existing systems. 

How to Make a Referral

The agent making a referral on behalf of a child must provide the Council with the following:

• a completed Intake Form and a signed Release of Information Form;
• a description of the barriers encountered in attempting to provide appropriate services or placement;
• a record of the efforts that have been made by the referral source or others to secure services and/or placements for the child; and
• background information on the child's special needs.

A referral containing all of the information mentioned above may be submitted to:

This list of suicide crisis phone numbers includes numbers for local county mental health clinics or the mental health units of hospitals, as these are the only places equipped to handle crisis calls in some counties.

The Child Mind Institute contains a wide variety of useful information resources for families and educators. The site explores concerns and challenges faced by parents, family members and educators. Learn how to effectively respond to emotional, behavioral and learning challenges. This website also contains many personal story videos.

Th Child Mind Institute is available online or in person (in New York City), offering evaluations, treatment and neuropsychological testing for children, teens and young adults.

The Mental Health Program Directory is a searchable list of programs that are licensed by the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) and programs that are funded by OMH that do not need a license to operate. Users can:

• Search for mental health programs by county, program category or subcategory.
• View program details such as program name, address and phone number.
• Click on any county on the map to view all of the programs in that county
• View program definitions

Types of searchable programs and services included in the directory: psychiatric emergency programs; crisis intervention services; inpatient and outpatient treatment options; supports, including respite services; and vocational services. 

Single Point of Access (SPOA) is part of the NYS Office of Mental Health's (OMH) 2000-2001 initiatives designed to expand the county's existing community based mental health system and help make it a more cohesive and better coordinated system. The goal is to create a system that promotes recovery-oriented services, which are widely available, flexible, personally tailored and responsive to individual needs. Individual's preferences will be integrated into the process. All referrals and transitions between programs and services will be entered into a database, in order to monitor who receives services, who does not, alternative recommendations, and the actual mental health residential and case management needs. There will be periodic reassessment and monitoring of an individual's need for a particular level of care/service.

SPOA Coordinators connect people with serious mental illness to mental health services.

The New York State Early Intervention Program (EIP) is part of the nationwide EIP. It is for infants and toddlers under three years of age who may not be making progress like other children because of a developmental delay or disability. A disability means that a child has a diagnosed physical or mental condition that may lead to developmental problems. These include, but are not limited to, autism, Down syndrome, motor disorders, or vision and hearing problems. A developmental delay means a child is behind in some area of development, such as growth, learning and thinking, or communicating.

The first step is your child's referral to the EIP in the county where you live. All counties in New York State (NYS) and New York City have an EIP. Children who may need services must first be referred to the EIP. Parents can refer their own child to the EIP if they have a concern about their child's development. In NYS, certain professionals are required to refer children to the EIP if a developmental problem is suspected. After referral, your child will be evaluated by qualified professionals. Your county EIP or the New York City EIP will help you get services if your child is found to be eligible. Health insurance, including private insurance and Medicaid, may be used to pay for early intervention services. EIP services must be provided at no cost to you and will not affect your insurance coverage.

View Early Intervention Programs using our MSNavigator Mapping Tool.