RESOURCES

Health centers are local clinics, often called Community Health Centers, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) or Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). They treat people’s medical, dental, mental health, substance use, and other health care needs.

All health centers:

• Provide a full range of care. They have doctors, dentists, therapists, social workers, eye doctors, obstetricians/gynecologists, pediatricians, case managers, and other medical staff such as community health workers;
• Are community-based and led in part by patients;
• Focus on meeting the needs of the people and areas they serve; and
• Adjust their fees based on income and family size.

Many health centers:

• Offer care in multiple languages. They can provide interpretation and translation services;
• Can help with transportation if patients have trouble getting to a clinic;
• Assist individuals in getting needed benefits; and
• Have on-site pharmacies that provide discounted prescription drugs.

Who do health centers serve?

Health centers provide care to people and groups who find it difficult to access health care. This includes:

• All people without regard to culture, race, language or sexual orientation,
• People without homes;
• Migrant farm workers;
• People who live in public housing;
• Veterans; and
• People without insurance.

About 90% of health center patients have incomes less than 200% of the federal poverty level.

You can find a local health center here: HRSA: Find a Health Center

Need information about addiction or help finding treatment?
Call the 24/7 HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369) or go to https://oasas.ny.gov/treatment.

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) oversees one of the nation’s largest addiction services systems with more than 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs.

 Behavioral Health Ombudsman
New York State’s behavioral health ombudsman program makes accessing and entering treatment easier. The Community Health Access to Addiction and Mental Health Care Project, “CHAMP,” helps New Yorkers facing insurance obstacles to treatment, to make sure anyone who seeks treatment–gets it, regardless of their ability to pay. CHAMP can also help resolve issues related to:

• Referrals to treatment services;
• Claim denials and appeals; and
• Network Adequacy, or lack of available treatment providers offered by your insurance plan.

CHAMP Helpline: If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, call the CHAMP helpline.

• Contact us by phone: Helpline:1-888-614-5400
• Contact us by email: [email protected]

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) oversees more than 4,500 programs serving more than 900,000 New York residents. For questions about mental health services, to find a mental health service provider or to make a complaint, call OMH Customer Relations toll-free at 1-800-597-8481.

Need Help Now? Dial or text or chat online.  Services are offered in Spanish and English. Conversations are free and confidential. Anyone who is depressed, going through a hard time, needs to talk, or is thinking about suicide can use the service. The crisis counselors are there to listen and support you through whatever difficult times you may be facing.

 Crisis Text Line: New York State has partnered with Crisis Text Line, an anonymous texting service available 24/7. Starting a conversation is easy. Text GOT5 to 741741.

NYC WELL: New York City’s free, confidential support and crisis intervention for anyone seeking help for mental health and/or substance misuse concerns, available 24/7. Text “WELL” to 65173 or call 1-888-NYC-WELL.

 You can find mental health programs near you in New York State with the mental health program directory.

The Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV replaced the former Governor’s Commission on Domestic Violence established in 1983.

Domestic Violence: If you or someone else is in a relationship is being controlled by another individual through verbal, physical, or sexual abuse, including gender-based violence, or other tactics, please call the sexual assault and domestic violence hotline: 1-800-942-6906.

Victims and survivors of abuse may be entitled to special protections.

Know Your Rights

• Domestic Violence Victim’s Rights
• Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights
• New York State Crime Victim’s Rights
• Housing Rights
• Employee Rights
• Public Benefits Rights
• Child Protective Services
• Voting Rights

The New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) is responsible for coordinating services for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorders, Prader-Willi syndrome and other neurological impairments. OPWDD provides services directly and through a network of approximately 600 nonprofit service providing agencies, with about 80 percent of services provided by the private nonprofits and 20 percent provided by state-run services.

Need services? The first step to getting the services you need is to reach out to your regional OPWDD Front Door office. Contact the OPWDD Infoline at1-866-946-9733 and ask them to transfer you to your local “Front Door” Office by telling the operator what county you live in.

You can also view the Front Door modules where you can learn how to access services and what types of services are available.

The first step to receiving assistance is to determine if you are eligible. Once you are determined eligible, you can begin the planning process. There are many supports and service options available, including supports to live in your home independently or with others, employment, day habilitation, and children’s services.

As of March 1,2024, all NYS Medicaid Members who are enrolled in a fee-for-services (FFS) or Medicaid Managed Care (MMS) are eligible to receive doula services at no cost during pregnancy and up to 12 months after, regardless of the pregnancy outcome.

Doula Services Covered by Medicaid

• If you are a New York State Medicaid Member, you are eligible to receive doula services with each pregnancy at no cost.
• You can receive up to 8 doula visits before and after your pregnancy and support during childbirth – no matter how your pregnancy ends.
• You can receive doula services up to 12 months after your pregnancy ends.

For Medicaid Managed Care Members:

If you started to receive doula services with a Medicaid-enrolled doula(s) before April 1, 2025, your doula services will continue to be covered by Medicaid until 12 months after the end of your pregnancy. If you start to receive doula service on or after April 1, 2025, your doula needs to participate with your Medicaid Managed Care Plan for your doula services to be covered by Medicaid. For questions, reach out directly to your Medicaid Managed Care Plan. For more information or a directory of Medicaid enrolled doulas (FFS) , visit https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/doula/index.htm