Care Management and HCBS
A support system for children experiencing emotional or chronic health challenges
A cocoon of support
While the causes for the crisis may be vastly different — a chronic medical condition, a sudden psychotic episode, longtime emotional struggles that have come to a head — there’s one thing every family with a child in crisis needs: a support system.
A solid support system helps the child become a stable, emotionally healthy adult, and helps the family pull through intact.
It’s not the common cold,
and it’s normal to feel lost
A handful of the many reasons parents reach out to Comfort Health
“It’s been weeks since we saw a smile on her face.”
“I’m suddenly thrust into a position where I need to watch a grown child 24/7 so she doesn’t hurt herself.”
“Why won’t she talk to anyone?”
“His school can’t handle him and he has nowhere else to go.”
In a utopian world, parents would have unlimited time and resources
to help their child in need, but real life doesn’t work that way.
When you still need to work and meet family obligations, and you don’t have
the connections and skills to get the right help all the time, reach out.
Medicaid + most Medicaid HMOs are accepted
Comfort Health steps in to shoulder your burden
Comfort Health is a program designated through the New York State Department of Health. It offers profound relief for more than a thousand families in multiple NYC and Nassau County communities.
What we can do for you
You may be eligible for a wide array of support, including:
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Sourcing specialized doctors, therapists, and providers who can treat your child effectively
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Goal-oriented support from a DSP (Direct Support Professional), also known as a worker, so your child practices their new skills when interacting with peers, siblings, and neighbors.
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Professional parental support, that prepares you to be supportive and react helpfully to unexpected or troubling behavior
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Collaboration with schools and yeshivahs to allow the child to stay in school — and thrive — with the right support
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Practical and emotional support, that makes it possible for your child and family to return to a blessed routine
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Referrals to schools, yeshivahs, summer camps, and programs that are a good fit for your child
“My son had such acute social anxiety, he vomited any time he needed to speak with adults. With weekly therapy and a gentle ‘big brother’ at his side, he slowly learned to stand his own in a conversation.”
Extra help you
may appreciate
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Coaching in household and life skills, including organization, time management, hygiene, and parenting
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Help scheduling and keeping appointments, including transportation and childcare if needed
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Managing prescription medications and their potential side effects
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Assistance with discharge in the event of hospitalization, since hospitals often require that you arrange for continuity of care
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Help applying for social services programs, like SNAP, SSI, HEAP, Section 8, childcare vouchers, and other benefits
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Prevocational training for your child so he has the soft skills to hold down a job once his schooling is done
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Talent-based activities, like art and music, to enhance your child's self-esteem and help them reach their social and emotional goals
“When you’re determined to prevent manageable issues
from spiraling out of control. When you’re aching
for respite from the intensity of constant crisis mode.
When you wish to find joy in your child’s personality again.”
–We’re here for you.
Who is eligible?
Participants must meet these criteria to apply for this service via Hamaspik of Kings County.
Live in NYC or Nassau County
Have a serious emotional disorder, a chronic health condition, or are medically fragile
Ages: Birth - 21
How you can access
this all-encompassing
support system
We’ll walk you through this process
Care Management
In-person
meeting
For intake and consent
Enrollment
when approved
for services
Assessment
For intake
and consent
Plan of Care
Detailing needs
and strengths
Referrals
To access services
and resources
Home and Community-Based Services
Evaluation
by HCBS evaluator to
determine specific goals
Establish
outcomes
for six-month goals
Person-centered
service plan
Respite, prevocational,
caregiver/family, and
advocacy support services
Discharge
plan
so everyone has their
eyes on the same goals
You’ll find the
Comfort Health staff
Respectful
You know your child best and you are their best advocate. All decisions are in your court. Nothing happens without parental consent.
Discreet
To put it plainly, HIPAA violations are an intolerable offense at Hamaspik of Kings County. Even internally, we don’t use names when we collaborate on your behalf.
Knowledgeable
With supervisors on call and an internal resource database at their fingertips, our care managers and coordinators are exceptionally helpful.
The heart behind the service
Sheindy Stern
Department Director
Director of Care Management Services
“Our Care Managers have a lot of support on hand so that they can perform optimally. We also regularly invite renowned mental health experts for staff professional development, including Akiva Perlman, Norman Blumenthal, and Lisa Twerski.”
Shlome Fried
Director of HCBS Services
“Our goal is for the children in our program to ‘graduate’ and become self-sufficient.”
You’d jump through
hoops for your child.
So will we.
The process to get approved for Care Management and/or HCBS is multistep and may seem complex. Leave it to us; we’ve done this hundreds of times and will guide you through the process.
We also accept referrals from community organizations, schools, hospitals, and pediatricians — with parental consent. Parents may choose to be serviced by their regional office, or by a different community office.
Medicaid + most Medicaid HMOs are accepted
Know a child
who’s confused
by mental illness?
Learn what to say and what not to say when explaining mental health struggles to a child.
