North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center is a specialty outpatient children's mental health agency located on Long Island, New York with licenses from the New York State Office of Mental Health and New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.
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Services Offered
Mental Health Services Each of the Guidance Center's three sites (Roslyn Heights, Manhasset and Westbury) offer mental health services for children from birth through 24 and their families. The first step is a comprehensive evaluation, followed by an individually tailored treatment plan that may include any combination of individual, family and group therapy; and, when indicated, medication management with a psychiatrist. All treatment plans require family consent and participation. Early Childhood Services The Marks Family Right from the Start 0-3+ Center (RFTS) in Manhasset offers parent education, as well as therapeutic and support services for young children. Rapid response and diagnosis for mothers suffering from maternal postpartum depression and other perinatal mood disorders is provided through the Diane Goldberg Maternal Depression Program. The Center also offers preschool evaluations for children ages 3-5. Intensive Child and Family Services This cluster of services is aimed at children and teens with serious emotional disturbances and their families, offering care coordination, crisis intervention in the home, case management and skills-in-living training. Teams of social workers, mental health counselors, psychiatrists and family advocates work collaboratively to preserve families and prevent institutionalization through an intensive response, often in the home and/or school environment.
Chemical Dependency Services Substance abuse treatment and prevention services are provided for adolescents, young children ages 6-24 and their families at the Guidance Center's Leeds Place - Serving Young People in Westbury. Substance abuse services include counseling youths who are alcohol and drug abusers, children who live in families with a parent who is suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction and youths who have co-occurring chemical dependency and mental health problems.
Diagnostic Services / Learning to Learn The Guidance Center offers families comprehensive diagnostic assessments by highly qualified teams of caring psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors and drug and alcohol counselors with special expertise in diagnosing and treating children. Our Learning to Learn Center offers specialized screening, diagnosis and tutoring for children suspected of having learning and attention deficit problems and developmental disorders.
Bereavement and Trauma Services The Schnurmacher Bereavement & Trauma Program offers assistance to children, youths and their families during times of grief and trauma, including family members of suicide victims and Parents of Murder Victims & Other Homicide Survivors (POMV) at our Lucille and Martin E. Kantor Bereavement and Trauma Center in Roslyn Heights and at our other sites.
Fees and Payment
The Guidance Center accepts multiple health insurance plans. Out of pocket cost of service is based on income and determined on a case by case basis. Proof of income is required.
For more than 60 years, the Guidance Center has been a place of hope and healing, providing innovative and compassionate treatment to all who enter our doors, regardless of their ability to pay.
This is a nonprofit organization.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual LGBTQ
Payment: Sliding Scale Medicare Medicaid
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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.