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.
.avif)
It’s not the common cold, and it’s normal
to feel lost
to feel lost
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.
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
- Sourcing specialized doctors, therapists, and providers who can treat your child effectively.
- 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.
- Professional parental support that prepares you to be supportive and react helpfully to unexpected or troubling behavior.
- Collaboration with schools and yeshivahs to allow the child to stay in school — and thrive — with the right support.
- Practical and emotional support that makes it possible for your child and family to return to a blessed routine.
- 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
you may appreciate- Coaching in household and life skills, including organization, time management, hygiene, and parenting
- Help scheduling and keeping appointments, including transportation and childcare if needed.
- Managing prescription medications and their potential side effects.
- Assistance with discharge in the event of hospitalization, since hospitals often require that you arrange for continuity of care.
- Help applying for social services programs, like SNAP, SSI, HEAP, Section 8, childcare vouchers, and other benefits.
- Prevocational training ifor your child so he has the soft skills to hold down a job once his schooling is done
- Talent-based activities a, like art and music, to enhance your child's self-esteem and help them reach their social and emotional goals
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
this all-encompassing support systemCare Management
In-person meeting
Enrollment
Assessment
Plan of Care
Referrals
Home and Community-Based Services
Evaluation
Establish
outcomes
Person-centered
service plan
Discharge
plan
You’ll find the
Comfort Health staff
Respectful
Knowledgeable
Professionalism
The hearts behind the service
Sheindy Stern
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.
.webp)
When a child can’t make sense of a loved one’s mental illness, fear fills in the blanks.
It can be overwhelming and confusing for a child to see a parent, sibling, or friend struggling with mental illness. This short guide gives you the language to explain what’s going on in a clear, age-appropriate way, so children feel safe and supported.
You’ll learn how to:
• Explain mental illness in simple, reassuring language
• Answer the tough questions your children may have (“Is it my fault?” “Why is he always so nervous?”)
• Give kids the tools to stay grounded even during tough moments
