The Niagara County Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services (NCDMH) provides a broad range of services and supports to individuals with mental health, alcohol and substance use and intellectual disabilities / developmental disabilities concerns. We have two fully integrated clinics, located in Lockport and Niagara Falls, that offer mental health, alcohol and substance abuse and limit
ed physical health services. We accept a variety of insurances including Medicaid and Medicare. In addition, we offer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Crisis Services to individuals in Niagara County. Phone Aides are available to provide a confidential resource through which individuals can receive referrals for services that are needed. ( Examples include; housing, counseling, substance abuse treatment, food pantries and other community resources). Callers can ask questions, share concerns, and receive assistance for themselves or someone they know who may be experiencing difficult life changes or challenges including mental illness and thoughts of self harm, suicide, or homicide. Some of the NCDMH community based services and supports in which Crisis Services facilitates access to include the following:
Adult Single Point of Access (ASPOA) Program: Serves Seriously and Persistently Mentally Ill (SPMI) individuals who are Niagara County residents and may have difficulty accessing housing or care management services. If an individual does not have a serious persistent mental illness but is at risk and in need, the ASPOA committee will make recommendations to the individual for other appropriate services. ASPOA establishes an efficient and comprehensive single entry point for individuals into the service system while providing systems management. Consumers of services are able to enter the system more seamlessly, be served more appropriately, and gain more from the experience of being served by one or more of Niagara County’s agencies. All stakeholders (consumers, NCDMH, New York State Office of Mental Health, and contract agencies) have the opportunity to view themselves as partners in a collaborative system. Services that can be accessed through ASPOA include Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), care management, mental health housing, and other services such as Assisted Outpatient Treatment services, Crisis Services Coordination, Forensic Case Management, Hospital Diversion services, Healthy Aging Services, Peer Support services, Parole Reentry Program services, and Mobile Integration Team (MIT) services. Participation in ASPOA is voluntary. Care management is provided to consumers regardless of medical insurance coverage or type of coverage. Due to demand, some services may have a waiting list. Children's Single Point of Access (CSPOA): Serves Niagara County children and youth with serious emotional disabilities (SED). If a child does not have a serious emotional disability but is at risk and in need of help, the CSPOA Committee will make recommendations to the family for appropriate services. CSPOA establishes an efficient and comprehensive single-entry point for individuals into the service system while providing systems management. All stakeholders (consumers and their families, NCDMH, New York State Office of Mental Health, and contract agencies) have the opportunity to view themselves as partners in a collaborative system. CSPOA develops strategies to maintain children and youth in the community, assesses the strengths and needs of a child referred, and create a plan to link the child to the most appropriate services. A brief list of the services that can be accessed through CSPOA includes: Youth Assertive Community Treatment (YACT), Care Management, Community Crisis Intervention, Home and Community Based Services Waiver, Mobile Integration Team (MIT), Multisystemic Therapy (MST), In-Home Respite, Family Support, Children’s Mental Health Housing (Residential Treatment Facilities and Community Residences). Participation is voluntary. Participation in CSPOA is voluntary. Hospital Diversion Program services provide linkages to necessary services. Adults can utilize the Hospital Diversion Practitioner for supportive visits as well as linkages to community resources. The Practitioner will conduct an assessment and interview with the individual to determine needs and will further work with the individual to determine appropriate referrals. While the individual awaits contact with needed resources, the Practitioner will maintain contacts with the individual to provide counseling and help maintain mental and emotional stability. The Practitioner aims to assist the individual to safely remain in the community and avoid hospitalization. The Practitioner is available in the evenings to provide individuals with additional after-hour support, treatment linkages, and referrals. Visits on weekends and holidays can be made by appointment. For a full list of services offered through NCDMH, please visit the Services tab. NCDMH is the administrative division for Local Government and the Community Services Board for the execution of the local mental health, developmental disabilities, alcoholism and drug abuse service plans. The provision of services is furnished to Niagara County residents through a system of providers. Programs offered by the Department and each of the Contract Agencies of the service system. For more information on program services and contract agencies, please visit: https://www.niagaracounty.gov/departments/m-r/mental_health___substance_abuse/index.php
Funding Sources Include:
County of Niagara
NYS Office of Mental Health
NYS Office of Addictions Services & Supports
NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
U S Government
