New York State Helping Websites

new york specific foster care, kinship and adoption information and websites AFFCNY

Begin exploring an array of New York State specific websites with comprehensive information and links to online resources to inform and support foster, kinship and adoptive families and advocates in understanding  and obtaining helping services and resources to meet children’s needs

  • Arch National Resource Center Respite Locator, http://archrespite.org/respitelocator – Includes a state by state, county by county director of respite programs for a variety of needs. Other resources on the site include excellent fact sheets on a wide variety of respite topics, training manuals, and program guides.
  • Easter Seals New York, http://www.easterseals.com –  Provides variety of direct services to children and adults with disabilities and special needs in New York City, Albany and Rochester areas. Website contains extensive  library of fact sheets, parenting tips, and disability resources.  Contact Easter Seals for information about local Easter Seals Child Development Centers.
  • Families Together NYS,  http://www.ftnys.org/ – Families Together in New York State, Inc. is a non-profit, parent-run organization that strives to establish a unified voice for children with emotional, behavioral, and social challenges. Services include an information and referral telephone hotline and and extensive regional online resource directories.
  • Hear to Listen, http://heretolisten.org/index.html – a resource for caring adults—the front-line staff in schools and community based programs—to help teens who are struggling with difficult emotions.  Offers expert guidance, stories, and activities to help you talk with young people about mental health and emotional challenges. An advisory board of mental health professionals and educators give tips on how to successfully respond, support, and bridge the teen to professional mental health services in the Expert Advice section.
  • HelpPro Online Adoption Therapist Finder –http://www.helppro.com/HP/therapist-finder/therapy-states/NY/index.aspx.  Online data base of of therapists and counselors in New York State.  You can search by specialty, treatment approach, payment accepted, zip code, etc. and click on the counselor’s name to view all the information about that therapist or counseling organization.
  • HITE: Health Information Tool for Empowerment, http://hitesite.org/ – On line health and social services directory that contains thousands of searchable resources that not only list the name, address, and phone number, but also information about intake procedures, languages spoken, hours of operations, directions, and more! Available in the Greater New York City area, including all five boroughs of New York City and Nassau and Suffolk counties in Long Island.
  • Inside Schools, http://insideschools.org/ – From registration to graduation, everything you need to know about the New York City school system. Includes parent discussion forum and where to get help section. Program of Advocates For Children, providing New York City educational advocacy services.
  • Learning Disabilities Association of New York State,  http://www.ldanys.org/index.php – Provides a variety of programs and services for children and adults with learning disabilities.  Contains LD and special education resources and contact information for  regional affiliates to call for local information and referrals.
  • Lesbian and Gay Family Building Project,  http://www.prideandjoyfamilies.org/ – Dedicated to helping Lesbian, Gay, Bixexual, and Transgender people in upstate New York to build and strengthen their families.  Offers educational programs, Information  & Referral, directory of Services, support groups,  education programs, newsletter, and social activities.
  • LIFENET,  http://newyorkcity.ny.networkofcare.org/mh/index.aspx.  A confidential, toll-free help line for New York City residents operated by the Mental Health Association of New York City in partnership with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. LIFENET operates 24 hours per day/7 days per week.  The hotline’s staff of multilingual trained mental health professionals help callers find the most appropriate mental health and substance abuse services for their needs and assist people who are experiencing a crisis.
  • LIFT (Legal Information for Families),  http://www.1800runaway.org/– New York City agency providing legal information to families navigating the family court system. Services include legal resource guides, information hotline and education and information sites located in the family court buildings in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx.
  • New York City Administration for Children’s Services Office of Advocacy, http://www.nyc.gov/html/acs/html/advocacy/office_advocacy.shtml#a2 – A staff of social workers and family specialists who respond to concerns of parents, youth, foster parents and the general public about child welfare cases and work to provide impartial resolutions to conflicts between clients and voluntary agencies or ACS offices.
  • The New York Center for Children, http://www.newyorkcenterforchildren.org/ – Staff experts speak with anyone in need of intervention and assistance as a result of child abuse. NYCC provides clinical evaluations in a child-friendly, safe, and nurturing environment for children suspected of being victims of abuse, crisis intervention and counseling, referral and advocacy services, and free abuse-awareness and prevention training to the community and to health care professionals.
  • NYSARC, http://www.nysarc.org/ – This online resource provides facts, services, assistance, news and updates to 55 local New York State chapters.  Includes family discussion group and chapter locator, and advocacy resources.
  • New York State Justice Center for Persons with Special needs,  http://www.justicecenter.ny.gov/services-supports  – Provides advocacy services, education, information, referrals and training to support and empower individuals with special needs.  Assists individuals with special needs, family members/guardians, advocates and  providers in a myriad of subject areas to obtain services or understand and address civil rights issues.
  • New York State Health Department Resource Directory for Children with Special Health Care Needs,  http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/child/special_needs/resource_directory.htm – Service description, eligibility criteria, and contact information for major New York State funded / administered programs for children with special health care needs.
  • New York State Health Department Physician Profiles,  http://www.nydoctorprofile.com/welcome.jsp – Searchable database of medical doctors licensed to practice in New York State. Includes information about payment plans accepted, professional background and education.
  • New York State Inclusive Recreation Resource Center, http://www.nysirrc.org/ – Includes an online database with descriptive information about over 250 recreation places and spaces so that people with disabilities, together with their family and friends, can better plan their recreation opportunities.
  • New York State Parent Network, http://www.nysparentnetwork.org – A coordinated group of advocacy organizations that provide support and information for parents of children with disabilities. Partners include the four U.S. Department of Education-funded Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIC) in New York State, the Advocacy Center, Advocates for Children NYC, Resources for Children with Special Needs, the Synergia Parent Resource Centers and United We Stand. Website contains resources on special education and links to partner agency information and referral services and resources.
  • New York State Family Resources Site, http://ccf.ny.gov/publications-resources/– A huge site developed by the New York State Council on Children and Families, containing an annotated bibliography of pamphlets and books, audiovisual materials on scores of topics and a compilation of state and national organizations that serve children and families.
  • New York State Office of Children and Family Services, http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/ – The OCFS site is growing and has added a wealth of information, web links and local service directories for a variety of topics such as  prevention of abuse and maltreatment, New York State post adoption services programs, domestic violence, and health care services. The site has an excellent search feature and includes contact information for OCFS regional office adoption specialists who can assist families with questions or concerns about local services.
  • New York State Office of Mental Health Program Directory, . Search for mental health programs by county, program category or subcategory and    View program details such as program name, address and phone number.  Includes a guide to mental health acronyms and a dictionary of program definitions to help you understand terms used in the directory.
  • New York State Office of Mental Health Office of Consumer Affairs, http://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/consumer_affairs/ – services include provided, but are not limited to, advocacy, trainings, technical assistance and peer support. Website contains extensive links to advocacy and support, health, legal, and transition resources and contact information for regional advocacy specialists.
  • New York State Office of Special Education, http://www.p12.nysed.gov/specialed/ –  Includes links and contact information for local New York State Special Education Parent Information and Early Childhood Direction Centers; as well as publications for parents of children with disabilities, dispute resolution resources, location of regional quality assurance offices offering information and referral services, and additional resources and websites that are designed for parents and families of children with disabilities.  The place to start exploring special education resources and available guidance.
  • New York Yellow Pages for Kids,  http://www.yellowpagesforkids.com/help/ny.htm – Find educational consultants, psychologists, educational diagnosticians, health care providers, academic therapists, tutors, speech language therapists, occupational therapists, coaches, advocates, and attorneys for children with disabilities on the Yellow Pages for Kids
  • Parent to Parent of New York State, http://www.parenttoparentnys.org/ – Provides a variety of services and information to connect and support families  including parent to parent support matching, information and referral and parent advocacy training.   Website contains extensive information and links for local and statewide service and advocacy resources.   Services are free and confidential.
  • Prevent Child Abuse, New York Parent Information Center and Helpline,  http://preventchildabuseny.org/ – The Prevention Information Resource Center and Parent Helpline offers assistance, information and referrals by phone, mail, internet and at public events.  The  Helpline is a confidential line, available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day. Staff  listen  to callers’ concerns, help them explore possible courses of action, provide them with needed information, and connect them with services in their community.
  • Resources for Children With Special Needs, http://www.resourcesnyc.org – New York City Parent Training and Information Center providing help for families to understand and negotiate educational and human services systems.  Bilingual staff works with individual parents and professionals by telephone and in person. “We listen, we help develop a plan of action, provide and explain resource information and entitlement procedures, and make informed referrals as appropriate.”
  • Runaway Switchboard,  http://www.1800runaway.org/ – Telephone support and referral for parents / youth in crisis. The Switchboard provides non-judgmental, confidential crisis intervention and local and national referrals through a 24-hour hotline. Maintains a comprehensive database of local and national agencies and services that can be of assistance and will help families develop a detailed plan of action.

Please note: These links are provided for your convenience only. Listing does not necessarily imply endorsement by the Coalition. Readers should verify the accuracy of any information found at websites