Children's Single Point of Access - NYC Health

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Children's Single Point of Access (CSPOA)

Children's Single Point of Access (CSPOA) is a centralized referral system for children and youth with serious emotional disturbance who need intensive mental health services to remain at home or in their community. CSPOA can direct youth as old as 21 to a variety of high-end community services. After receiving a referral request, CSPOA will conduct an assessment and interview the family and referrer to determine the child’s needs.

Visit Mental Health: Single Point of Access for information on referring adults to treatment and support.

Connection to Services

CSPOA refers children and youth to services such as:

Health Home Care Management (ages 0-21): Provides care coordination to youth with chronic behavioral and physical health needs. A care manager will provide various services, including an individualized plan of care and patient advocacy.

Non-Medicaid Care Coordination (ages 0-21) : Provides care coordination to youth who are diagnosed with severe emotional disturbance. A care manager will provide various services, including an individualized plan of care and patient advocacy.

High Fidelity Wraparound (ages 12-21) (Only available in Queens, Brooklyn and Bronx): Provides coordination of services for families to meet their needs. It is a structured, team-based process that includes a care manager, and family and youth peers using an evidence-based model, which partners with families on how to use their voice to develop a family-driven plan that promotes self-advocacy.

Community Residence (ages 8-17.9): These small therapeutic group homes provide housing and supervision from specially trained staff. Services include structured daily living activities and training in problem solving skills. Clinical services are provided by local mental health programs.

Refocus Community Residence (ages 14-20): Only one located in Queens, a small therapeutic group home which focuses on preparing older adolescents for successful independent living with classes for life skills and peer advocacy groups that help them reconnect with family members, building an informal support network of peers and adults. Clinical services are provided by local mental health programs.

Youth Assertive Community Treatment (Youth ACT) (ages 10-21): Provides a comprehensive team of professionals to deliver intensive, highly coordinated, individualized services and skilled therapeutic interventions to maintain youth in their home, school and community. The team includes a psychiatric nurse practitioner, clinical support specialist, program assistant, team leader, licensed mental health professionals, and peer and family advocates.

Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) (ages 5-20): A residential psychiatric facility that provides comprehensive mental health treatment services to children and youth who need long-term treatment (more than 180 days) in a residential setting. Provides a self-contained therapeutic setting that also offers school, recreational, vocational, and medical services.

Use the forms below to make a referral to CSPOA. You can submit the forms by fax to 347-396-8849 or email to the secure fax line at CSPOA@health.nyc.gov.

Children’s Single Point of Access Application Part 1 (PDF)

Children’s Single Point of Access Application Part 2 (PDF)

Required Consent for Release of Information (PDF)

Informed Consent for the Office of Mental Health Residential Treatment Facility Authorization Review Process

For more information about CSPOA or the referral process, call 347-396-7205.

More Information

Mental Health and Behavioral Health

Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Information and Referrals

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in NYC