Services in our Community
Bridges to Health Home and Community-Based Services Waiver
Bridges to Health Home and Community-Based Services Waiver (B2H) is designed to support children living in foster care and offer assistance to their foster, birth, and adoptive families.
The services offered through the B2H program are Medicaid services and will improve the safety, health, and well-being of a child in foster care and prevent hospitalizations and institutionalization. The B2H program follows the eligible child through foster care placement, return home, or adoption.
Health Care Integration Agencies (HCIAs) such as The House of the Good Shepherd coordinate and deliver B2H waiver services to children in foster care, their caregivers, and their families across New York State. HCIAs have demonstrated success in serving youth and addressing traumatic life events.
With the direct involvement of the youth and family/caregiver, The House conducts assessments and develops a specialized health plan that is designed to meet the individual’s specific needs. Participants have choice in selecting their HCIA, case coordinator or Health Care Integrator (HCI), and service providers.
The 14 services available to children and families are: Health Care Integration, Skill Building, Family/Caregiver Support and Service, Day Habilitation, Prevocational Services, Supported Employment, Planned Respite, Special Needs Community Advocacy & Support, Crisis Avoidance – Management & Training, Immediate Crisis Response Services, Intensive In-home Support, Crisis Respite, Accessibility Modifications, Adaptive & Assistive Equipment.
Foster Family Homes
Offers more than 100 children the opportunity to live with families in Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, and St. Lawrence counties. Offices in Utica and Watertown, New York, coordinate regular, specialized, therapeutic, and emergency levels of foster care. Additional services include individual, family, and group counseling; case management; psychiatric and psychological consultation; and physical health screenings and services.
Respite Foster Care is also offered to foster parents at The House as well as other child service agencies. This service provides children and families with a brief break to help relieve parenting stress.
Families Forward (Prevention Program-Jefferson County)
An intensive, home-based program designed to reduce the risk of out of home placement for the most “at-risk” youth and families in Jefferson County.
It offers a combination of home and community based services which include individual, group, and family counseling; respite services; mentoring; community supervision; recreation; school and community advocacy; psychiatric and psychological services; 24-hour on-call emergency services; and linkage to other community supports and programs.
PINS Diversion Program (Jefferson County)
This program is based out of our Watertown Office. It works with youth designated as PINS (Person In Need of Supervision) to provide them with case management services that prevent them from further entering the juvenile justice system.
Multiple contacts made weekly with the child/young adult in the home and/or school setting. Individual, family and group therapy is provided as necessary.
Non-Secure Detention (NSD)
Provides boys and girls, ages 12 to 18 waiting to appear in Family Court, with short-term residence, schooling, and support services.
Respite Care
Respite care services are contracted to a variety of agencies in Oneida and Jefferson Counties.
Quality Improvement & Training
Enhances programs and prepares staff with the training, assessment capability, and identified standards to continuously improve the quality of care for children and families.
