Interagency Case Resolution Unit

The Interagency Case 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 Case 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:

Mental Health Program Directory

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)

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.