Life can be challenging. Northern Rivers, which partners with DCS to offer behavioral health services, offers Mobile Crisis Response Services to assist individuals and families in need of immediate assistance. Parents, guardians and adults may call (518) 292-5499 any time, day or night, for referrals to Mobile Crisis Response Services.
Northern Rivers crisis teams consist of licensed behavioral health practitioners, clinical supervisors, family advocates, peer support specialists, case managers and school behavioralists. They help prevent unnecessary hospitalization and emergency room visits by stabilizing a crisis in the most normalized, least restrictive setting.
Teams can respond on-site in public and private settings, as well as over the telephone. The program is funded by the mental health systems in the counties served: Schenectady, Albany (children and adolescents only – Albany County adult crises are handled at (518) 549-6500), Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren and Washington.
Northern Rivers was formed in 2012 and is the parent organization that includes the Northeast Parent & Child Society and Parsons Child & Family Center. For general information about Northern Rivers, call (518) 952-9032.
At DCS, Northern Rivers mental health counselor Yvonne Lerner, MHC-LP confidential care to students and their families. Parents and guardians seeking more information should contact their DCS school social worker or Yvonne at (518) 895-5350, ext. 235.
Insurance coverage for the Northern Rivers clinic at DCS is handled in the same manner as when accessing other services located in a non-school setting. In other words, the program operates similarly to clinical visits off-site and therefore, parents/guardians provide their insurance information to Northern Rivers.