VNSNY Unveils First “FRIENDS” Children’s Mental Health Clinic in South Bronx
In another ground-breaking initiative to provide the highest level of care to New Yorkers of all ages who are traditionally underserved by the health care system, Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), in partnership with the New York State Office of Mental Health, announced today the addition of the VNSNY FRIENDS Mental Health Clinic for children as part of its established crisis intervention and stabilization programs in the South Bronx.
Only recently opened, the facility will be serving patients referred through the VNSNY system but then expanding its services to the broader South Bronx facility in the Fall.
The VNSNY FRIENDS Clinic works with families to provide individual, family and group therapy to children and adolescents who demonstrate behavioral and emotional problems. Often this therapy enables children to stay at home, complete their education and improve family and peer relationships. Programs like these have been shown to result in reduced stress in the home and classroom, increased school attendance and graduation rates and a reduction in the likelihood of incarceration or hospitalization.
“There is a need for accessible mental health services for children in the South Bronx,” said Linda Embry, VNSNY FRIENDS Clinic director. “Families come to the FRIENDS Clinic when they are facing difficult situations, either due to a crisis, or a behavioral or mental health issue with their child. Our mission is simple: to work closely with families on interventions that have proven to make a difference in helping children grow and thrive at home, in school and in the community.”
Currently one of the barriers facing families in need is the limited number of clinics providing mental health services to children. Families often wait up to four months to be assigned to a therapist that may even entail long-distance travel to gain access to appropriate services. A recent evaluation done by The Citizen’s Committee for Children of New York found that children in the four community districts served by the VNSNY FRIENDS Clinic are at the highest risk for experiencing poverty, poor school attendance and performance, juvenile delinquency, child abuse and violent crime, with more than 50 percent of these families living below the poverty line.
“In the life of every family there comes a time when parents get stuck and can’t understand what is happening to their child and family. Traditional methods of problem solving aren’t working, and they need new solutions. Now with the VNSNY FRIENDS Clinic, there is a place in the community that provides treatment support when families need help,” commented Dr. Neil Pessin, director of community mental health services for VNSNY. “This is the community I grew up in. Being able to take part in providing excellent high quality, evidence based treatment to a worthy, underserved population who otherwise might not have the opportunity for such care, has deep personal significance for me.”
The clinic offers evening and Saturday hours and seeks to provide both short- and long-term treatment with the average length of stay being between six to 12 months. Each client meets weekly with a therapist who works with both the child and family members to provide treatment to address the child’s need.
“The Office of Mental Health is pleased to celebrate the opening of the new children’s clinic operated by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York at the FRIENDS site,” said Anita Appel, regional director for the New York State Office of Mental Health. “This clinic is a welcome addition to the community, and will be helpful to the system of mental health care in the Bronx. By offering an array of quality services in one location, and making those services available not only during the daytime, but also in the evening and on weekends, the VNSNY clinic has the flexibility that will enable many families in the Mott Haven community to get needed mental health services for their children.”
The VNSNY FRIENDS Clinic catchment area includes community districts one through four, serving children ranging in age from five to 18. The clinic employs six full-time staff members, including two bi-lingual licensed social workers, as well as a part-time psychiatrist. The clinic is funded by both VNSNY and state funds. To be eligible for the program, clients must meet the above criteria and be referred by a parent, teacher or someone else in their community. For more information, please call 718-742-7100.
About VNSNY (www.vnsny.org)
VNSNY is the largest not-for-profit home health care organization in the nation. Having provided 2,248,000 professional home visits to more than 131, 600 patients of all ages throughout New York City, Westchester and Nassau Counties. The agency was established in 1893 by Lillian D. Wald, the founder of public health nursing in the United States. For more information on VNSNY, please call 800-675-0391 or visit www.vnsny.org.
About FRIENDS
The VNSNY FRIENDS program provides a complete continuum of care for at-risk and seriously and emotionally disturbed children and adolescents in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. The program provides a supportive, collaborative and flexible model of care where each family may receive services for up to ten months, depending on need.