Links to Important Sites

Children's Mental Health & Support Info Diagnosis Specific Mental Health Organizations & Associations Regional Information Government Related Sites Legal Links Books & Educational Resources For link exchange information or corrections, please send an e-mail to info@ftnys.org Children's Mental Health & Support Links:

Support & Collaboration:

The New York State Parent Education and Awareness Program - designed to educate divorcing or separating parents about the impact of their breakup on their children. The primary goal is to teach parents ways they can reduce the stress of family changes and protect their children from the negative effects of ongoing parental conflict in order to foster and promote their children’s healthy adjustment and development.

Parent to Parent of New York State -Organization that provides emotional support and information to parents of children with disabilities or special needs.

New York Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities --includes many resources - government programs, grassroots organizations, and parent support groups. They will be adding evaluators, educational consultants, academic tutors, advocates, attorneys, and others who help parents get services for their children.

Resources for Children With Special Needs -An independent, not-for-profit organization that provides information and referral, case management and support, individual and systemic advocacy, parent and professional training, library and information services to New York City parents and caregivers of children with disabilities and special needs and to the professionals who work with them.

NICHCY (The National Informational Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities) -NICHCY is the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals.

The New York State Citizen's Coalition for Children -the Coalition is an organization of concerned citizens and over 140 volunteer adoptive and foster parent groups in every region of New York State. Guided by a belief in the right of every child to a permanent, loving family.

The National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning -at the Hunter College School of Social Work- is a training, technical assistance, and information services organization dedicated to help strengthen the capacity of agencies to: institutionalize a safety-focused, family-centered, and community-based approach to meet the needs of children, youth and families.

Special Education:
NYS Special Education Resources for Parents- Assessment information, laws & regulations, overview of the special education process with information regarding evaluation, eligibility, parental rights, IEP, due process, and more.

PBIS Technical Assistance Center-The Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) has been established by the Office of Special Education Programs, US Department of Education to give schools capacity-building information and technical assistance for identifying, adapting, and sustaining effective school-wide disciplinary practices.

A Parent's Guide to Special Education/Special Needs - In-depth, yet basic overview of the special ed process, including IEP information by Maiya Lueptow in consultation with Friends of Special Education.

All Kinds of Minds -The All Kinds of Minds’ mission is to help students who struggle with learning measurably improve their success in school and life by providing programs that integrate educational, scientific and clinical expertise.

Advocates for Children- Advocates for Children of New York, Inc. works on behalf of children from infancy to age 21 who are at greatest risk for school-based discrimination and/or academic failure.

The Advocacy Center- The Advocacy Center, located in Rochester, NY, is a non-profit organization that educates, supports, and advocates for families of children 0-21 with all-ranges of disabilities.

Youth:
Struggling Teens in New York Resource Site -Searchable engine for struggling teens and families of struggling teens.

Family Help in New York, Focus Adolescent Services -Extensive overview of resources, including hotlines, literature, legal info, etc. for parents of adolescents in NYS.

MPOWER Musicians for Mental Health- mpower is a new youth awareness campaign that's harnessing the power of music to change youth attitudes about mental health and fight the stigma facing the 1 in 5 youth with mental health problems.

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Diagnosis/Condition Specific:

Anxiety Disorders Association of America -Resources for professionals and consumers.

Asperger Syndrome Coalition of the United States -National nonprofit organization committed to providing the most up-to-date and comprehensive information on Asperger Syndrome and related conditions.

The Autism Society of America - Information for parents with newly diagnosed children, general information about the Society, and information about local Society Chapters.

CHADD -National non-profit organization representing children and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD).

Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF) -The Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF) is a parent-led, not-for-profit, web-based membership organization.

Conduct Disorders Web Site -Links, support forum, articles, recommended books, profiles.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation -Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Resource site.

Parents & Teachers of Explosive Kids -Utilizing both professional literature and personal experiences, this parent-driven site has been designed to provide education and support for parents and professionals involved in the care of inflexible-explosive kids.

Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) - National organization dedicated to providing up-to-date information about Tourette Syndrome.

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Mental Health Organizations & Associations Links:

The Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health -Families Together in NYS parent organization, advocating on a national level for families with children with special needs.

Mental Health Association of New York State -MHANYS is a voluntary not-for-profit statewide association with 32 local affiliates located in communities throughout New York State.  MHANYS brings together service recipients, families, professionals, advocates and concerned citizens to address all aspects of mental health and mental illness. 

New York Association of School Psychologists -NYASP serves children, their families, and the school community by promoting psychological well-being, excellence in education, and sensitivity to diversity through best practices in school psychology.

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Regional Groups & Information:

Children's Mental Health Coalition of Western New York -The Children’s Mental Health Coalition of WNY Inc. is to strengthen family support services, to promote awareness of children’s mental health issues and to foster equal partnerships between parents and child serving agencies. CMHCWNY serves 19 counties in Western New York including: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates.

AHA/AS/PDD - The Advocates for Individuals with High Functioning Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Corp. is a Long Island parent group whose primary purpose is to support one another as they advocate for the unique needs of children and adults with these special needs.

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Government Related/Legal Links:
NYS Assembly
NYS Senate
NYS Office of Mental Health
NYS Department of Health
NYS Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services
NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
NYS State Education Department
NYS Office of Children & Family Services

NYS Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled

The National Institute of Mental Health
United States Government Nonprofit Gateway

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Legal Aid Links:

Lawyers for Children -Not-for-profit organization in New York City dedicated to representing children in foster care as well as providing free legal and social work services to children who are the subject of abuse, neglect, termination of parental rights, adoption, guardianship, paternity, custody and visitation proceedings.

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law -Legal advocacy for the civil rights and human dignity of people with mental disabilities.

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Books & Educational Resources:

Healthfinder -An abundance of health resources and search engines provided by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.  

Internet Mental Health -This site offers a free encyclopedia of mental health information, particularly diagnoses, medications, disorders, and research findings.

Psych Center -Dr. John Grohol's Mental Health Page, a personalized one-stop index for psychology, support, and mental health issues, resources, and people on the Internet.

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