Children's Mental Health Coalition of Western New York, Inc.-The Children’s Mental Health Coalition of WNY, Inc. is to strengthen family support services, to promote awareness of children’s mental health issues and to foster equal partnerships between parents and child serving agencies. CMHCWNY, Inc. serves 19 counties in Western New York including: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates.

Families Together in NYS, Inc.- Families Together in NYS, Inc. is a non-profit, parent-run organization that strives to establish a unified voice for children with emotional, behavioral, and social challenges. Our mission is to ensure that every family has access to needed information, support, and services. Families Together in NYS, Inc. is the state chapter of the Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health and a 501c3 nonprofit corporation.

Children's Mental Health & Support Links:

Support & Collaboration:
Parent to Parent of New York State -Organization that provides emotional support and information to parents of children with disabilities or special needs.
About.com's Parenting Children with Special Needs -Great resource site for parents with links, articles, forums, and newsletters.
Resources for Children With Special Needs -An independent, not-for-profit organization that provides information and referral, case management and support, individual and systemic advocacy, parent and professional training, library and information services to New York City parents and caregivers of children with disabilities and special needs and to the professionals who work with them.
NICHCY (The National Informational Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities) -NICHCY is the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals.
Knowledge Exchange Network/Center for Mental Health Services -Information and resources on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services for mental illness.
KIDS-Kid's Insurance Defined & Simplified -The KIDS Website offers information for facilitated enrollers, for parents, for lead agencies, for providers, for insurers and for community based organizations who work with families across the state.
Families USA -Helpful Medicaid and other health info.
NYS Partners for Children-Resources for community collaboration.
Zero to Three -Great resource for early intervention mental health issues for parents and professionals.

Special Education:

NYS VESID Parent's Guide to Special Education - A great overview of the special education process with information regarding evaluation, eligibility, parental rights, IEP, due process, and more.
A Parent's Guide to Special Education/Special Needs - In-depth, yet basic overview of the special ed process, including IEP information by Maiya Lueptow in consultation with Friends of Special Education.
Special Education Directory (Yahoo!) -Highly recommended, excellent resource site containing basic special ed info sites as well as relevant links.

 

Teens:
Struggling Teens in New York Resource Site -Searchable engine for struggling teens and families of struggling teens.
Family Help in New York, Focus Adolescent Services -Extensive overview of resources, including hotlines, literature, legal info, etc. for parents of adolescents in NYS.

Children's Safety Network - Violence Prevention and Safety Resource Center.
 

Empowerment & Resiliency:
The Empowerment Zone -Outstanding list of links based on the theme of empowerment -- helping individuals and communities achieve self actualization and full citizenship. Also includes links pertaining to computer software & programs.
Coping.Org -Onsite Manuals for Coping with a Variety of Life's Stressors.

National Network for Family Resiliency -Resiliency resources and online training materials.

Project Resilience -Website offering resiliency training information, publications, core concepts and links.

Resiliency in Action -Resiliency training, products, and forums.

Strength Based Services International -Organization whose mission is to put strength based practices in the hands, minds, and hearts of every family and child care practitioner.

 

Diagnosis/Condition Specific:

ADDA Kids Area -Information about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder for kids. 

About.com's ADD Site -Great site with links, articles, forums, and newsletters all about attention deficit disorder.

Anxiety Disorders Association of America -Resources for professionals and consumers.
Asperger Syndrome Coalition of the United States -National nonprofit organization committed to providing the most up-to-date and comprehensive information on Asperger Syndrome and related conditions.
The Autism Society of America - Information for parents with newly diagnosed children, general information about the Society, and information about local Society Chapters.

About.com's Autism/PDD Site -Great site with links, articles, forums, and newsletters all about Autism & Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
CHADD -National non-profit organization representing children and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD).
Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF) -The Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation (CABF) is a parent-led, not-for-profit, web-based membership organization.
Conduct Disorders Web Site -Links, support forum, articles, recommended books, profiles. Ross Greene's Web Site

 

Cerebral Palsy Resources- A Medical Guide- A wonderful website that includes everything you need to know about Cerebral Palsy including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and other important information! Referred to us by Ms. Graham and her wonderful students at Clearly Mountain Elementary School in California!

OCD Center -Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Resource site.
Parents & Teachers of Explosive Kids -Utilizing both professional literature and personal experiences, this parent-driven site has been designed to provide education and support for parents and professionals involved in the care of inflexible-explosive kids.
Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) - National organization dedicated to providing up-to-date information about Tourette Syndrome.

 

Mental Health Organizations & Associations Links:
 

The Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health -Families Together in NYS parent organization, advocating on a national level for families with children with special needs.
ACT For Youth -Assets Coming Together for Youth—aims to strengthen community partnerships that promote positive youth development and prevent risky and unhealthy behaviors among young people, aged 10 to 19.
Mental Health Association of New York State -MHANYS is a voluntary not-for-profit statewide association with 32 local affiliates located in communities throughout New York State.  MHANYS brings together service recipients, families, professionals, advocates and concerned citizens to address all aspects of mental health and mental illness. 
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (Family & Youth Section) -NAMI is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders.
The National Center for Kids in Crisis -A nonprofit organization, devoted to promoting the mental health of children. Includes tips for parents.
New York Association of School Psychologists -NYASP serves children, their families, and the school community by promoting psychological well-being, excellence in education, and sensitivity to diversity through best practices in school psychology.
Statewide Youth Advocacy (of NY) -This site was designed to provide access to information, services, and ideas that we can all use to improve the lives of New York's children.
The Alfred Adler Institute of New York -a post-graduate training institute for mental health professionals. The Institute has been the primary source of Adlerian psychology training in the Northeast for over 50 years.


Regional Information:

Central New York Family Support Coalition -Serves families who have children and youth with mental health disabilities covering the southernmost to northernmost regions of Central New York State.
New York City Youth Line -Hotline and links to city agencies for youth.
Nanuet Parent Information Network -Links to handy resources for children with special needs.
Behavioral Health Services North -BHSNorth serves Northeastern NY (Saranac Lake, Plattsburgh, Malone, and Westport) and offers services for children with behavioral and emotional needs and at-risk youth.  

 

 

Government Related Links:

NYS Assembly
NYS Senate
NYS Department of Mental Health
NYS Department of Health
NYS Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services
NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
NYS State Education Department
NYS Department of Social Services
NYS Division of Human Rights
NYS Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance
NYS Office of Children & Family Services
NYS Office on Aging

NYS Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled

The National Institute of Mental Health
United States Government Nonprofit Gateway
 

Legal Links:

 

National GAINS Center-The National GAINS Center for People with Co-Occurring Disorders in the Criminal Justice System.
Lawyers for Children -Not-for-profit organization in New York City dedicated to representing children in foster care as well as providing free legal and social work services to children who are the subject of abuse, neglect, termination of parental rights, adoption, guardianship, paternity, custody and visitation proceedings.
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law -Legal advocacy for the civil rights and human dignity of people with mental disabilities.
The Special Needs Calculator -designed to help parents get started on the road to developing a financial plan for the whole family. 
PINS Reform and Family Advocacy Coalition -PRAFAC is an informal group of organizations and individuals working to promote parent's rights, PINS reform, and benefits families.

 

Fun Stuff for Families & Kids:

 

Family Friendly Fun with Special Needs -Mind, body and spirit-enriching resources to enhance the quality and enjoyment of family life with special needs.
FunSchool.Com -Fun site for the kids: great online games for preschool age on up.

 

Books & Educational Resources:
 

New Bookstore Open in Saugerties, NY Specializing in Mental Health!

ERIC -Education Resource Information Center/Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education; parent resources, research, documents, listserves.

Healthfinder -An abundance of health resources and search engines provided by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.  

Internet Mental Health -This site offers a free encyclopedia of mental health information, particularly diagnoses, medications, disorders, and research findings.

Mental Health Infosource -Huge mental health search engine: AtoZ disorder search, articles, classifieds, continuing education, news briefs, etc.

Psych Center -Dr. John Grohol's Mental Health Page, a personalized one-stop index for psychology, support, and mental health issues, resources, and people on the Internet.

Woodbine House -Special needs books concentrating on, but not limited to autism, ADHD, celiac disease, fragile X syndrome, inclusion, and learning disabilities.
Active Parenting Publishers -Large variety of resources, books, and videos for parents and teachers on many different issues.  Resources available in Spanish and English. 
Nonprofit Board Resource Catalog -National Center for Nonprofit Boards catalog of publications.
Magination Press -Magination Press specializes in books that help children deal with a variety of personal, psychological concerns: from family problems to self-esteem to death and dying.