Founded over 140 years ago to serve as a resource to the Jewish immigrant population, the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services' history is one of providing support and care for those in need in all of New York City's diverse communities, serving people and families of all religions, ethnicities, ages and cultural backgrounds. We are a non-profit organization.
Services Offered
Emotional Crisis
Founded over 140 years ago to serve as a resource to the Jewish immigrant population, the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services' history is one of providing support and care for those in need in all of New York City's diverse communities, serving people and families of all religions, ethnicities, ages and cultural backgrounds.
Family Services
Strong families build strong communities, but many families need help to stay intact. Without proper intervention, a traumatic family crisis can damage and destroy lives. Through intervention, counseling, and treatment, we help strengthening families facing issues like divorce, repeated conflicts with children, family violence, or navigating the challenges of a family member's death. Our family services programs work with families where they are, in order to prevent further fractures in the family structure. Our social workers and therapists can help your family address a broad spectrum of issues.
Living with Mental Illness
Many individuals live with serious and persistent mental illness, struggling with anxiety, severe depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. For some, the simplest acts, whether it's going to work, taking children to school, or shopping or groceries can be distorted by mental illness. Navigating daily life can seem nearly insurmountable, not only for the person suffering facing these challenges, but for their loved ones as well. We offer a way for our friends and neighbors who live with a serious mental illness to learn methods for coping and skills for living independently in the community.
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
If one of your loved ones has an intellectual disability, we are here to help them achieve full and rich lives. Whether you choose for them to live at home or in one of our residences, we have a team of medical professionals, behavior specialists, social workers and direct support professionals who can help them meet their personal goals, participate in activities, and enjoy being part of the community at large. Our high standard of service delivery places a strong emphasis on the participation of family members, and our goal is to help individuals intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families achieve the highest possible level of independence.
Services for Children
The most vulnerable members of our community are children, and we are committed to providing protective, supportive, and nurturing spaces for children. Children often are diagnosed with psychosis, depression, bipolar disorder, and post- traumatic stress disorder. Many of these issues are brought on by trauma, and our services are designed to help a child and its family work through these experiences so that they can go on to lead healthier, more productive lives. Our goal is to empower parents, as well as children. That's because both parents and children thrive when parents provide not only affection, but also respectful communication and listening, consistent rules and expectations, and safe opportunities to promote independence.
Services for Teens
Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14. And left untreated, mental health problems in youth are associated with suicide, homicide, incarceration, addictive disorders, risk-taking behaviors, and health problems. For adolescents who have suffered significant trauma and feel they have no place to turn, we offer security and healing, in both residential and outpatient settings.
Fees and Payment
Please visit or call our office for insurance, program cost and eligibility inquiries.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
