Schenectady County Office Of Community Services

Schaffer Heights

107 Nott Terrace, Suite 200

Schenectady, New York 12308-3170

Phone : (518) 386-2218

Fax # : (518) 382-0194

                The Schenectady County Office of Community Services is responsible, under Section 41 of the New York State Mental Hygiene Law :  to plan, develop, coordinate, monitor, and provide (through contractual arrangement, as needed) a wide variety of community-based mental hygiene programs for the mentally ill, mentally retarded, developmentally disabled, alcoholic, and substance abuser, as well as the dually diagnosed.    The system is supported by a complex Federal/State mandated planning, budgeting, and reporting system.

                In addition to this overall planning, coordinating and contract management, the Office provides daily referral, informational, and consultative services to the general public, to community agencies, local criminal justice services and courts, and to various County Departments.

                The Office contracts with 13 service agencies, as well as oversees numerous others, to provide the direct client services stated above.    These agencies are, of course, certified by the various State Agencies which the Office must deal with, including the NYS Office of Mental Health; NYS Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities; NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services; and recently the NYS Division of Parole; and the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, for two special grants coordinated by this office.

                Specific Services provided to the citizens of Schenectady County by the contract agencies include, prevention; education; assessment; inpatient therapy; outpatient treatment; case management; day treatment; day training; recreational; respite; sheltered workshop; supported work; and residential.