Partnership for Safe and Healthy Youth

Who We Are

The Partnership for Safe and Healthy Youth is a unique approach to providing a continuum of behavioral health, social services and educational support to Rockland County children and teenagers who struggle academically, socially and emotionally. The Partnership is a "System of Care" that focuses on healing children, adolescents and their families, with the goal of creating a stronger, stable support system at home.

Highly-trained, multilingual experts from several county agencies including the Rockland County Department of Mental Health, the Rockland County Department of Social Services and Rockland BOCES identify needs and coordinate services.

Where We Are Located

The Partnership for Safe and Healthy Youth is centrally located inside the BOCES Educational Resource Center (BERC) in Nyack. This “one-stop” setting allows streamlined access to all partners and related services. Referrals are immediate, paperwork is reduced, and "face time" replaces phone calls.

Staff is typically available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday.

What is a System of Care?

A System of Care (SOC) is a network of programs and services delivered to children, youth and families that:

• creates a framework of support recognizing that children and families have needs in many areas of life;
• promotes a holistic approach in which all life domains and needs are considered; this empowers the child and family to determine the services they need with comfort in knowing that providers will work together to meet their needs;
• provides coordinated services and supports with a single, comprehensive and individualized plan.

Guiding Principles of a System of Care:

• Child Specific
• Family Driven
• Youth Guided
• Community Based
• Culturally & Language Appropriate
• Evidence-Based Practices
• Least Intrusive

The process is for youth and families to receive services which are individualized and to include formal and natural supports selected by the youth and family. The ultimate goal is to improve access and expand the array of services and supports for children and youth with emotional and behavioral challenges and their families with a focus on the quality and cultural responsiveness of programs.