Behavioral Health and Wellness

To enroll, contact:

Abby Jeffrey
Director

917-808-4505

Where will my child receive services? How much does it cost?

The Youth ACT program is free for young people with medicaid, and all services are provided in the home, school, and in the child’s community.

Youth ACT

Intensive intervention for young people in Brooklyn with significant mental health issues

JCCA’s Youth ACT program provides families with a comprehensive team of professionals to deliver intensive, highly-coordinated, individualized services and skilled therapeutic interventions to maintain the child in the home, school, and community. The team includes a psychiatric nurse practitioner, a Family Peer Support specialist, licensed mental health professionals, an educational support specialist, a clinical support specialist, program assistant, and a team leader.

What are the program’s goals?

  • Interventions focus on improving functional impairments and severe symptomatology due to the youth’s mental illness.
  • Family-driven, youth-guided interventions enhance family functioning in order to foster health, well-being, and stability.
  • The program’s evidence-based, trauma-informed approach uses the child’s and family’s own strengths to focus on recovery and re-integration.
  • With a team-based approach, every member of the team is a resource for the family and understands each young person’s needs and individualized interventions.

 

What services are provided?

  • Assertive Engagement
  • Case Management
  • Assessment
  • Child and Family Services Planning
  • Individual, Group and/or Family Counseling/Therapy
  • Family/Individual Psychoeducation
  • Psychosocial Rehabilitation
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Medication Management
  • Family Peer Services
  • Vocational/Educational Services

 

Who is eligible?

ACT clients aged 10-21 must meet two or more of the following criteria:

  • Youth and/or family has not adequately engaged in, or responded to, treatment in more traditional settings
  • Two hospitalizations within one year or one hospitalization of 60 days or more
  • High use of psychiatric emergency or crisis services
  • Persistent severe major symptoms
  • Residing in or being discharged from inpatient program, or deemed eligible for a residential treatment facility (RTF)
  • Home environment and/or community does not provide the necessary support required to adequately address mental health needs for developmentally appropriate growth
  • Young person has been clinically assessed to be at immediate risk of requiring a more restrictive living situation without intensive community services