Lori Morgan , LCSW-R
Director of Community Services

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Telephone:
607-689-8139

Sarah Begeal , LCSW-R
Deputy Director of Community Services

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Telephone:
607-689-8103

1062 State Route 38
PO Box 177
Owego, NY 13827

Main Phone:
607-687-4000
Fax:
607-687-0248

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Mental Health Crisis Info

 

 MH Crisis Services Call (607)687-4000 
  OR Walk-in to Owego Clinic, Monday - Friday from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 


After Hours, Weekends & Holidays:
 Call (607) 687-1010 and ask for the on-call mental health crisis social worker

The Mental Hygiene Department offers Tioga County residents a comprehensive continuum of person-centered counseling services and support for individuals and families of all ages who are coping with emotional problems, mental illness, marital issues, depression, anxiety, substance use and much more. Please view Program & Services below for more detailed explanations of the services offered.

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  Events

CLINIC LOCATIONS & HOURS

Primary Clinic - Owego NY

Health and Human Services Building

1062 State Route 38 Owego, New York 13827

Telephone: (607) 687-4000 or 1-877-882-8313  Fax: (607) 687-0248

Hours: M 9-5, T 9-8, W 9-8, Th 9-8, F 9-5

Open Access Walk-in Services for Mental Health and Substance Use are available in Owego between 9am and 4pm, no appointments required, on a first come first serve basis. 

Satellite Clinic - Waverly NY

80 William Donnelly Parkway Waverly, New York 14892

Telephone: (607) 565-9594    Fax: (607) 565-7194

Hours:  M Closed, T 8-7, W 8-6, Th 8-6, F 8-5

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OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDING RESPONSE

  Programs & Services

The Tioga County Community Services Board has adopted an updated Compliance Program to ensure consistency with new requirements.

Community Counseling Services
Offering Tioga County residents a comprehensive continuum of counseling services and supports for individuals of all ages and families coping with emotional problems, mental illness, marital issues, depression, alcoholism and substance abuse.

Mental Health Clinic Treatment Services
Mental Health Clinic Treatment Services, which are available in both Owego and Waverly, include a wide variety of different options for consumers of all ages who present a need for counseling or evaluation services. Initially, the consumer works with a professional intake worker who assists them in identifying problem areas and goals for treatment. The consumer is then referred to the appropriate service, which could include individual, group or family therapy, case management services or perhaps to a psychiatrist for an evaluation for medication.

Counseling Services
Our Counseling Services for individuals of all ages are designed to encourage a sense of well being, personal empowerment and movement towards improved functioning in daily living for the consumer. The use of a structured, consistent and stable setting with a caring and objective listener allows for opportunities to explore personal life history, present difficulties and future goals in a safe environment. As a result of the therapeutic relationship, consumers are often able to better identify problem areas, develop a plan of action and take steps towards resolving issues.

Children & Youth Services
Our Children & Youth Services provides a number of evaluation, consultation and counseling services throughout the community. Many of these services are located within the school districts or community settings where children and adolescents spend a majority of their day. This has proven to be an effective approach to treatment as it allows for better communication between the schools, community agencies and the children.

MICA Treatment
This specialty treatment for is for individuals who are diagnosed with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Services may include individual and/or group counseling. Group therapy begins at a level of 3 times per week, and gradually decreases to twice per week, then once per week, following the outline of Intensified, Relapse and Transitional levels of care stated above. This treatment is available in the mornings, afternoons and evenings in the Owego location.

Crisis Situations
For those consumers who are experiencing a crisis situation, the Department of Mental Hygiene provides 24-hour a day crisis coverage. While this service is primarily a phone service, same-day appointments can be made in order to assist the consumer in managing an emergency situation.

Related Links

No one is refused services due to inability to pay. Many health insurance policies cover some or all of the costs. In addition, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security provide payment of services for eligible individuals. Sliding fee scales are based on the annual income, number of dependents and the ability to pay.

The Alcohol & Drug Services Department assists individuals who have experienced problems in their daily functioning due to substance use. Services available are outlined below.

Comprehensive Substance Evaluation
This is a generally a 2 hour intake appointment, used to gather information about the chief complaint. A certified counselor will complete this evaluation prior to identifying the most appropriate level of treatment needed.

NYS DWI Evaluations
This is a specialty evaluation, usually required by NYS after an individual has been charged with a DWI. Participants are often referred by a local Drinking Driver Program or legal entity. The 2 hour comprehensive evaluation will determine if a client will determine the need for treatment and assist with meeting requirements to regain a driver’s license.

Forensic Assessments
Comprehensive Assessments completed in the Tioga County Jail for incarcerated individuals. Although treatment is not available in the jail setting, a treatment recommendation and referral for appropriate services is provided.

Intensified Outpatient Groups
This level of treatment consists of six hours divided into 3 group sessions per week in addition to individual counseling. Individuals receive education about addiction, and are introduced to the concepts of building a sober community support network while learning how to achieve and maintain sobriety. This treatment is offered in the mornings and evenings at the Owego location.

Relapse Prevention Group
This level of treatment consists of four hours divided into 2 group sessions per week in addition to individual counseling. Individuals are encouraged to utilize supports they have created at the intensified level of care and focus on enhancing learned coping skills to maintain sobriety and prevent relapse. This treatment is offered in the evenings at the Owego location.

Transition Group
This level of treatment consists of 1 two hour group session per week in addition to individual counseling. Individuals are assisted with transitioning back into the community while fully utilizing their learned skills and the sober support network they have created while in treatment. This treatment is offered in the evenings at the Owego location.

Beginning Treatment Group
Individuals engage in a primarily educational group offered once per week and individual counseling sessions as determined appropriate. Treatment is time limited and is offered in the evenings at the Owego location.

Adolescent Group
This level of treatment is for individuals between the ages of 13-17 who meet criteria for a substance abuse or dependence diagnosis. Group sessions are offered twice per week in addition to individual counseling. Parent or guardian must accompany child to the assessment and are expected to actively participate in the child’s course of treatment and planning. This treatment is available in the Owego location.

MICA Treatment
This specialty treatment for is for individuals who are diagnosed with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Services may include individual and/or group counseling. Group therapy begins at a level of 3 times per week, and gradually decreases to twice per week, then once per week, following the outline of Intensified, Relapse and Transitional levels of care stated above. This treatment is available in the mornings, afternoons and evenings in the Owego location.

Facts About Developmental Disabilities

What Are Developmental Disabilities?
Developmental disabilities are a variety of conditions that become apparent during childhood and cause mental or physical limitation. These conditions include autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and other neurological impairments.

People with developmental disabilities may not learn as quickly as others or express themselves clearly. Others may have limited ability to take care of their physical needs or limited mobility. Many have more than one disability.

Developmental disabilities have a variety of causes, which can occur before, during or after birth. Those occurring before birth include genetic problems, poor prenatal care or exposure of the fetus to toxic elements, drugs or alcohol. Occurrences during birth, such as a cut off of oxygen to the baby, or accidents after birth, like car accidents causing traumatic brain injury, also can cause developmental disabilities.

It is difficult to define the limits of people with disabilities, as we continue to discover extraordinary abilities within them. While people who have developmental disabilities face a more challenging future than most, they still can enjoy a full and active life. What they need most is encouragement, understanding, and the willingness of other to help them maximize their opportunities for becoming part of their community.

The New York State Office For People With Developmental Disabilities
The New York State Office For People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) became an independent agency when legislation reorganizing the Department of Mental Hygiene became effective on April 1, 1978. The state of New York and its local governments have a responsibility for the prevention and early detection of developmental disabilities and for the comprehensively planned provision of services including care, treatment, habilitation and rehabilitation of their citizens with developmental disabilities.

OPWDD operates 13 developmental disabilities services offices (DDSOs) responsible for providing such programs in one or more counties. These offices seek to provide specially designed person-centered assistance to each individual with developmental disabilities as requested by that person or by his or her family. In partnership with consumers, families, staff, private providers and local governments, these offices seek to improve the quality of life of individuals and their families through the provision of quality, cost-effective housing, employment and family support services. In addition, the Office For People With Developmental Disabilities conducts research at its Institute for Basic Research located on Staten Island.

How does one access services for someone who has developmental disabilities living in Tioga County?
A Road Map to Services for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities in Tioga County guide is available by clicking here to provide information about services and how to access them.

Related Links:

New York State Office For People With Developmental Disabilities
Albany, New York 12229
Telephone: (518) 473-9689
Fax: (518) 473-1271
TDD: (518) 474-3694

The New York State Mental Hygiene Law establishes Community Services Boards in every county. In non-charter counties (Tioga), the Board is a policy-making one. As such, the Community Services Board participates in and approves the plans which are submitted to each of the Mental Hygiene Agencies: Office of Mental Health, Office of Mental Retardation/ Developmental Disabilities, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. The Board sets priorities for State Aid funding and recommends priorities for local funding to the County Legislature. It oversees the activities of the County Department of Mental Hygiene and its contract agencies

The Board works in partnership with various State Agencies: Office of Mental Health (OMH), Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (OASAS), and Office of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities (OMR/DD). The Community Services Board is responsible for ensuring that State funding is utilized to carry out the approved local plan and priorities. Planning and contractual relationships also exist with VESID and the Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives.

The Board works in partnership with the Tioga County Legislature and the human service community. The County Legislature appoints Board members to four-year terms and has responsibility for County Planning.

The Board is responsible for appointing the Director of Community Services. The Director serves as the Board’s Executive Director and also directs the County’s Department of Mental Hygiene. The Director is responsible to the Community Services Board for planning and programmatic management of the Department of Mental Hygiene and is responsible to the County Legislature for fiscal and personnel management.

Sub-Committees

The Board has sub-committees that focus on the needs of individuals in the community with mental hygiene disabilities. The sub-committees are: Mental Health (MH), Alcohol & Substance Abuse (ASA) and Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities (MRDD). Each sub-committee provides oversight, planning and coordination functions for the County services system for each disability area.

Goals for the service system are set, system-wide plans are developed with the Director of Community Services (DCS) and providers, programs are monitored for efficiency and effectiveness, funding recommendations are made to the DCS and State agencies, and trends or unmet needs are considered as part of the ongoing work of the sub-committees.

Meetings (open to the public)

Community Services Board 3rd Thursdays @ 6:00 PM
MH Sub-Committee 1st Fridays @ 9:00 AM
ASA Sub-Committee 2nd Tuesdays @ 10:30 AM
OPWDD Sub-Committee 2nd Tuesdays @ 9:00 AM

 

 

 

 

 

All meetings are held at the Health and Human Services Building:
1062 State RT 38, Owego, New York 13827.

SPOA for Adults

The SPOA initiative for adults focuses on improving coordination and enhancing the capacity of the mental health system to provide case management, housing and other critical supports to individuals with serious mental illness who have difficulty successfully living in the community. The goal is to create and nurture a system that promotes recovery-oriented services that are available, flexible, personally-tailored, and responsive to individual need. The SPOA initiative for adults is committed to:

  • Assuring access to individuals with the greatest need.
  • Facilitating movement among appropriate levels of services.
  • Improving integration between case management, housing and treatment services.
  • Ensuring choice for recipients.

The SPOA committee screens all referrals for case management and housing services and ensures access to all available case management and housing vacancies. In Tioga County we currently offer 3 levels of case management including general case management, supportive case management and intensive case management. Housing options are through Rehabilitation Support Services Inc. and include 3 levels of housing services.

SPOA for Children

The purpose of the SPOA for children and families is to identify those children with the highest risk of placement in an out-of-home setting and to develop appropriate strategies to manage those children in their home. The SPOA for children is responsible for the following:

  • Implement an initial screening process and obtain baseline information. The information can be used to measure clinical outcomes, measure the quality of services and can also be used to identify gaps in the services system.
  • Provide an organized process to manage access to services.
  • Use a comprehensive assessment tool to be used in the development of an individualized service plan.

  Document Library

PWDD Agenda 1.11.22
PDF, 100 KB

PWDD Agenda 2.8.22
PDF, 100 KB

PWDD Agenda 3.8.22
PDF, 120 KB

PWDD Agenda 4.12.22
PDF, 120 KB

PWDD Agenda 5.10.22
PDF, 203 KB

PWDD Agenda 6.14.22
PDF, 137 KB

PWDD Agenda 8.9.22
PDF, 221 KB

PWDD Agenda 9.13.22
PDF, 170 KB

PWDD Agenda 10.11.22
PDF, 123 KB

PWDD Agenda 11.8.22
PDF, 161 KB

PWDD Agenda 1.10.23
PDF, 142 KB

PWDD Agenda 2.14.23
PDF, 183 KB

PWDD Agenda 3.14.23
PDF, 164 KB

PWDD Agenda 4.11.23
PDF, 187 KB

PWDD Agenda 5.9.23
PDF, 135 KB

PWDD Agenda 6.13.23
PDF, 123 KB

PWDD Agenda 8.8.23
PDF, 174 KB

PWDD Agenda 9.12.23
PDF, 54 KB

PWDD Agenda 11.14.23
PDF, 110 KB

PWDD Agenda 1.9.24
PDF, 114 KB

PWDD Agenda 2.13.24
PDF, 123 KB

PWDD Agenda 3.12.24
PDF, 94 KB