HYSB exists to strengthen the emotional health of youth and families by providing free behavioral health services and empowerment programs in partnership with our public schools, local organizations, donors and volunteers in the Northwest Corner community. Established in 1991, the Housatonic Youth Service Bureau is a 501c3 nonprofit founded to respond to the needs of the youth living in the Region One School District. The towns include North Canaan, Canaan, Salisbury/Lakeville, Sharon, Cornwall and Kent.
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Services Offered
Our door is open to area youth, teens and parents looking to make wise decisions in a complex world. Each year, we provide our community with hundreds of hours of free counseling services. Our barrier-free model ensure that your child or family member will meet with a qualified clinician quickly, for no-cost, and with the utmost in confidentiality. If general support or information is what you are looking for, our clinician is also available to provide practical information, resource and referrals to other appropriate area services.
Call us if you're looking for: Someone to talk to in a safe, confidential, and supportive setting Help with a crisis you can't handle alone Assistance identifying local providers and resources for adults, children and families Reliable information about issues affecting you and your family Case coordination and supportive services for your child or family If substance use/abuse is of concern, we can provide referral assistance to a Certified Addictions Counselor. All calls and interviews are confidential. Referrals are accepted from parents, teens, schools and juvenile court. For more information or to make an appointment please call the HYSB at 860-824-4720.
Our confidential services are open to youth and families in the six towns of Regional School District One: North Canaan, Falls Village, Salisbury, Sharon, Cornwall, and Kent. Appointments are flexible. Call today!
Fees and Payment
Generous people like you supply more than half of our funding each year. So when we say that we are a community supported agency, we really mean it!
Housatonic Youth Service Bureau is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens Children
Special Groups: Faith-Based
Payment: Pro-bono
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Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
Qualifying for assistance from Connecticut's program usually depends on the severity of your condition and financial circumstance. Read our full guide to Connecticut's program.
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.