Putnam Family and Community Services, Inc. (PFCS) has received a $20,000 grant from the Westchester Community Foundation to support its Children’s Crisis Response Program. The program serves children and adolescents throughout Putnam County who are facing emergency situations requiring mental health counseling and guidance.
Liza Szpylka, PFCS Vice President of Behavioral Health Services, comments, “This is an extremely important program for our youth. It is essential that the young members of our community have a safe place to turn to in a time of need.”
Children and adolescents are facing considerable challenges in a rapidly changing world where social conditions, educational expectations, and current events place more and more stress on them every day. School violence and bullying, rising alcohol, heroin and opioid use, and increases in the number of children who are experiencing anxiety, depression and other mood disorders indicate the need for programs like PFCS’ Crisis Response.
The emphasis of the Children’s Crisis Response Program is always on the safety, treatment and well- being of the child as well as their parents and caretakers. Trained clinicians are available at PFCS from Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, to assist local schools and families with an immediate assessment and evaluation when a crisis situation arises.
In addition to the children’s crisis program and a dedicated, newly-remodeled Children’s Therapeutic Playroom, PFCS offers a broad range of services for people of all ages to address mental health needs, social and emotional issues, and substance use prevention and treatment. For more information about PFCS and its services, visit www.pfcsinc.org or call (845) 225-2700.