Mental Health Toolkit

Key Referrals

• 988 - call, text or visit online. 24/7 free counseling and referrals to mental health, substance use and crisis care.

• Behavioral Health Crisis Service Flowchart. Flowchart with information on what programs to call if you have a client in crisis.

• H+H ExpressCare: (845) 397-2273 or visit www.expresscare.nyc/dhs online. Medical and behavioral health urgent care and medications. Online or by phone. 24/7, no out-of-pocket cost for DHS clients. 

• NYC Health Map. Find health services including substance use and harm reduction programs in NYC.

• Mental Health Single Point of Access (SPOA). Flowchart with details on mobile mental health programs, such as Care Coordination, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT). Learn more and submit applications here.

• Safe Options Support (SOS). Mobile mental health program for people experiencing chronic street homelessness.

• H+H Safetynet Clinics - Primary care clinics at H+H Lincoln, Elmhurst, Bellevue and Woodhull Hospitals for people experiencing homelessness who have multiple medical conditions, including mental health or substance use conditions.

• H+H PORT Reentry Helpline (646-614-1000 and CHSPORTLINE@nychhc.org) - H+H reentry helpline providing information on medical care and insurance for people with justice involvement. Information and support provided for: getting medication (including suboxone), Medicaid and other benefits (SSI, cash assistance, SNAP), connection to specialty care (e.g. substance use, mental health, hepatitis C).

• Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) - “Kendra’s Law” (§9.60 of the Mental Hygiene Law) mandates mental health services for a small number of individuals who have difficulty engaging in rehabilitation and can pose a risk to themselves or others in the community. The order is granted in civil court. The New York City Assisted Outpatient Treatment program is responsible for the implementation of Kendra’s Law in the five boroughs of New York City.

Tools for Shelters

• Shelter Observational Mental Health Assessment. This form can be completed by shelter staff to support SPOA (ACT, IMT, or Care Coordination) applications, or other applications for mental health services.
• Shelter Request for Psychiatric Hospitalization. This form can be completed by shelter staff and provided to emergency medical services to advocate for hospital admission if a client is a danger to self or others.
• PSYCKES (Psychiatric Services and Clinical Knowledge Enhancement System). Eligible providers can use this platform to review case history to support clinical care coordination, applications for health services such as for ACT, and supportive housing applications.
• Supportive Housing Application Guidance (CUSC). 
• Coordinated Assessment and Placement System (CAPS) Trainings.  

Coordination of Care with Hospitals

• Shelter Request for Psychiatric Hospitalization. This form can be completed by shelter staff and provided to emergency medical services to advocate for hospital admission if a client is a danger to self or others.

• DHS Institutional Referral Program. Hospitals are required to submit a referral request to discharge to DHS shelter and safe haven after an in-patient hospital stay, for both new and returning clients. Shelters should work with the hospital as soon as the client is hospitalized to put supports in place to ensure the client will have stable health if they return to shelter, and/or work with the hospital to develop a discharge plan to a higher level of care if needed. If the shelter is not sure if the client is medically appropriate for shelter and needs assistance advocating for health services or higher level of care while the client is hospitalized, email: DHS-HCFReferral@dhs.nyc.gov.

• DHS Authorization for Mobile Health Program Accompaniment through Shelter Intake and Placement Form. Clients with serious mental illness or serious medical issues may need support and encouragement to go through the shelter Intake and placement process. Hospitals can coordinate with mobile health programs (ACT, IMT, SOS, ICM, Community Health Workers) to accompany the client through this process. Accompaniment from hospital to shelter helps mobile health programs establish and maintain contact with clients while they are in the shelter system.