All mental health programs have as their trademark Comunilife’s Relational Approach for Diverse Populations, a practice model that integrates culturally appropriate information, sensitivity, and awareness to the clinical work with multi-problem clients of diverse backgrounds. Mental health programs use a wide range of treatment modalities as well: individual, family, group, psycho educational, wellness management, and medication. This approach to the delivery of services honors people’s differences and brings forth their strengths.
Also see our links to other resources.
Outpatient Clinics
The Oasis Guidance Center
1730 Harrison Avenue - Bronx, NY 10453
Tel: 718-731-2024 - Fax: 718-731-2087
The VIDA Guidance Center
2064 Boston Road, 1st Floor - Bronx, NY 10460
Tel: 718-364-7700 - Fax: 718-364-1513
Both Centers are dedicated to the vision of expanding access to mental health clinical services and case management to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Both clinics offer services to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender community and are open to referrals from any source, including self-referral. The staff at the Centers not only have expertise in their clinical area, but they also regard cultural competence as a central prerequisite for the effective delivery of services to their consumers.
Supported Scattered-Site Apartment Programs
Bronx Supported Housing Program
Tel: 718-617-6400 - Fax: 718-617-0900
Queens Supported Housing Program
Tel: 718-706-7503 - Fax: 718-706-7493
Aligned with Comunilife’s vision and mission to expand quality of life and independence, invest in a healthier tomorrow, and extend access, the Supported Housing Program is designed to assist people with serious mental illness to gain entry to affordable, permanent housing through rent subsidy as well as case management and support.
Comunilife’s Supported Housing Program provides rent subsidies from New York State Office of Mental Health to eligible adults with mental illness who have a diagnosis of severe and persistent mental illness and are able to live independently in the community with minimal supports. In addition, the Program supplies first month’s rent and one month security deposit as well as a startup kit with basic and functional furniture, household supplies, and food in the pantry when moving in.
Upon acceptance into the program, the consumer will be assigned a case manager to assist in procuring appropriate available housing, develop a service plan, as well as training and support in activities of daily living.
Safe Haven Residences
Safe Haven Residence I
Tel: 718-561-3411 - Fax: 718-561-3415
Safe Haven Residence II
Tel: 917-507-2410 - Fax: 917-507-1580
Comunilife’s Safe Haven Programs provide Level I housing for hard-to-reach individuals who are homeless, have serious, chronic mental illness, and have not engaged in conventional housing or outpatient treatment. The primary goal of this program is to promote wellness and stability by providing housing and culturally competent rehabilitative services in a familial environment using a supported-SRO model that allows residents to remain as long as required while they acquire the skills necessary for independent living. Wellness is also promoted through connection to community resources that include medical, psychiatric, and addiction outpatient treatments.
Each residence serves a group of 25 men and women, and all residents are given access to the following services:
- Information about and access to entitlements and benefits
- Links with healthcare providers as needed
- Monitoring of medication
- Money management skills
- Individual and group counseling
- Referrals to more suitable housing conditions as necessary
- A wide variety of weekly therapeutic groups and social/cultural activities, such as a Cooking Group designed to educate about nutrition, a Game Group to improve socialization skills, a Relapse Prevention Group to decrease substance abuse, a Medication Group to enhance clients’ understanding of their medication regime, and many others.
Community Residence
173rd Street Community Residence
552 West 173 St. - New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-543-3001 - Fax: 212-543-3002
Comunilife’s 173rd Street Community Residence, a Level II program, is a four-story brownstone building organized like a home. It is a transitional congregate residential program designed to improve independence, choice, and outcomes for individuals who have severe persistent mental illness. Its primary purpose is to provide a structured holistic program for rehabilitation using restorative service treatment planning. Restorative services are determined by the New York State Office of Mental Health and assist residents to improve and maintain the skills necessary for life in community housing while simultaneously achieving community integration within 18 to 24 months. Discharge readiness is assessed in an on-going manner through Utilization Reviews. The program as 24-hour staffing, with at least one staff member at all times.
Upon admission, the resident is assigned a Mental Health Counselor. Client and Counselor will work together to implement a goal-oriented service plan that includes realistic and suitable discharge planning from the start and prepares the client for the highest level of independent living possible. In addition, clients are expected to become involved in some daily, meaningful activity off-site such as continuing day treatment, vocational/educational rehabilitation, employment, and or a psychosocial club. On-site services are maintained through groups for activities of daily living and community meetings as well as case management and mental health counseling in conjunction with utpatient treatment providers.
Links:
- NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS)
www.nyc.gov/html/acs/home.html
www.scannewyork.org/
www.svcmc.org/westchester/
- Federation of Employment and Guidance Service (FEGS)
www.fegs.org/
- Social Security Administration
www.socialsecurity.gov/
- Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS)
www.cucs.org/
- New York State Office of Mental Health
www.omh.state.ny.us/
- National Alliance on Mental Illness
www.nami.org
www.legal-aid.org/
www.hispanicfederation.org/
- The Coalition of Voluntary Mental Health Agencies, Inc.
www.cvmha.org/
- United Way of New York City
www.unitedwaynyc.org/
