Children are placed in foster care because they have experienced abuse and/or neglect. Many have been exposed to violence in their own homes; they may suffer the consequences of poor nutrition, or inadequate or no pre-natal care. Virtually all have experienced some sort of traumatic event. It is no wonder that most or all of their primary health care needs go unmet.
The New York Foundling’s Health Services provide comprehensive medical and mental health services to all foster children in our care. Our programs are guided by the Recommendations for Preventive Health Care of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which we have modified to address the special needs of this fragile population.
At all Foundling sites, we maintain clinics that are staffed by primary healthcare providers, psychologists and psychiatrists who have expertise in treating this vulnerable population. Upon entering our care, The Foundling ensures each child receives:
- Comprehensive physical examination to look for signs of abuse/neglect and assess overall health
- Complete mental health screening
- Onsite dental screening and treatment at most locations
- Newly-expanded vision screening with licensed optometrist
- Hearing testing
- In-depth examination for possible developmental disabilities
- Screening to determine substance abuse
Our staff of health care professionals provides routine and ongoing health maintenance and management of acute and chronic illnesses, as well as intensive medical case management. For any advance treatment that the children in our care might require, The Foundling collaborates with specialists from many of NYC’s premier health care facilities.
Between 35% and 80% of the children New York Foundling serves have significant mental health problems. To address these mental health needs, The Foundling’s programs incorporate mental health assessment and therapy services into their primary care at our community based clinics. Emphasizing access to community based services, we ensure that children receive the specialized treatment they require and help them move forward toward academic success, satisfying social relationships and productive community involvement.
Clinicians will utilize therapies that address issues common among our children and families such as:
- trauma symptoms
- separations issues
- parent/child attachment and positive parenting skills
- facilitation of family reunification
- adjustment to foster care
- prevention of foster home disruptions
The primary goal of our mental health services is to help children and families heal from the impact of the abuse and/or neglect they have experienced and to help them develop healthier and more adaptive ways of coping with their feelings and behavior. Therapists, families and caseworkers work together to develop a treatment plan and identify short and long term goals.
Children who are sexually and physically abused or neglected often lack the ability to trust appropriately or maintain loving relationships with adults. To heal key relationships and prevent a cycle of abuse, the Foundling’s mental health services offer highly specialized individual, family or group psychotherapy to abused and neglected children and their families.
Mental Health Clinic
The Foundling operates a child and adolescent- focused mental health clinic where licensed therapists offer four different models of treatment to address the needs of the entire family. Therapists make every effort to ensure that services are client- and family-driven, and provided at a convenient time and location, whether at the clinic, in the family’s home or at a convenient neighborhood location.
Referrals are welcome, as are walk-ins. Medicaid is accepted as are the following insurance plans: Health First, Neighborhood, Fidelis, Metroplus and Affinity. Non-insurance personal payment fees are determined on a sliding scale.
New York Foundling
Mental Health Clinic
2090 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd,
7th Fl (near 125th St.)
New York, NY 10027
718-772-0280
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 am – 8:30 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
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