Family Services’ new building will accommodate child behavior service

POUGHKEEPSIE — New mental health care access is coming to Northern Dutchess County as the demand for mental health services has been increasing.

Family Services Inc., an outpatient mental health clinic, has outgrown their facility, which was located at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck. Now, the incorporation is upgrading to a much larger location in Rhinebeck that is expected to open late this year.

“They’ll be working on being able to accommodate seeing children there as well. It’ll be basically like individual therapy or counseling sessions for youth and adults.” said Mental Health Commissioner Jean-Marie Niebuhr. “It will also be group therapy. There’ll be some opportunities for medication management, psychotropic medication management for mental health conditions.”
Family Services currently has eight locations, five of which are within Dutchess County and can be found in Millbrook, Rhinebeck, Beacon, Eastern Dutchess and Poughkeepsie.

The new facility will bring more resources and expand access to adults, and will now house the new children’s behavioral health program. This program will provide children up to the age of 17 with services that could include: comprehensive evaluation, crisis intervention, individual or family therapy, psychiatric evaluation and medication management, according to the Dutchess County website.

As well as this, Family Services can provide group or individual therapy with integrated needs for adults over the age of 18.

Therapy, individual and group, at Family Services is provided through licensed therapists and counselors, who have been trained in how to approach each individualistic situation. They also have a team of experienced psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and nurses, if someone is seeking medication or medical needs.

“There’s five, and those are public mental health clinics, which means that they should be able to accommodate people with any type of insurance, or no insurance,” said Niebuhr. “They also take, of course, Medicaid and Medicare.”

Regardless of a person’s income or insurance coverage, Family Services works hard to provide for anyone in need. Their goal is to ensure the community can have access to quality behavioral health support, without any sort of stigma attached to it.

Dutchess County’s Department of Mental Health has provided $205,000 in funding to support Family Services’ new location and bringing mental health services to the northern part of the county. According to the Dutchess County’s government website, this funding was part of a contract amendment, redirecting previous funds that Family Services received and to repurpose the funding in order to establish the much needed children’s behavioral health services in their new Northern Dutchess location.

If Dutchess County residents are unable to access any of their local facilities, there is an option to get services online. Telehealth amenities can be obtained through Zoom, based on the individual’s needs and an assessment done by the clinical team.

Currently, the insurances that Family Services accepts are: Medicaid, Medicare, Aetna, Beacon Health Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield, CDPHP, Empire Plan, Fidelis, MVP, UBH Optum and Wellcare. However, the insurance being accepted can be subject to change at any time, and should be checked prior to any appointment.

“I envision the clinics being sort of the backbone of our mental health system. And accessing that type of care is really important because if you’re getting care, you’re much less likely to end up in a crisis,” said Niebuhr. “And of course, we want to do everything we can to avoid a crisis. So if people can easily get the help they need when things aren’t as bad, then hopefully we would prevent them from ever being in a mental health crisis.”

To schedule an intake appointment, call 845-276-4600 or the non-urgent email: intake@familyservicesny.org.

Latest News

School budgets pass amid strong turnout in May 20 polling

With robust voter turnout throughout the region, proposed 2025-26 education budgets passed handily, along with their additional propositions, in the polling held on Tuesday, May 20.

Webutuck Central School District

By a margin of 173 to 103, voters approved the 2025-26 budget totaling $28,665,850, an increase of 5.96% over the current year. After expected revenues are factored in, the amount to be raised by local taxes is $19,403,307, a 5.27% increase over the current year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Millbrook names top-ranked scholars

Amber Concannon

Photo provided

MILLBROOK — Strong leadership skills and confidence in communication are evident contributors to Amber Concannon having earned her designation as Valedictorian of the Millbrook High School Class of 2025.

“I have truly loved my time at Millbrook,” Amber said of her Millbrook schooling that began when she was enrolled in kindergarten.

Keep ReadingShow less
Village Trustees hear call to adopt law to limit local cooperation with ICE

Barbara Graham of Millerton speaks to Village trustees, Mayor Jenn Najdek and Millerton Police Chief Joseph Olenik during a May 21 special meeting.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON — The Village of Millerton board of trustees held a special meeting on Wednesday, May 21 that drew an unusually large crowd. Nearly 20 residents and supporters showed up to urge officials to adopt a local law aimed at protecting immigrants, including undocumented community members.

The law, as proposed by meeting attendees, would limit cooperation between local law enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amenia gathers at Fountain Square

A traditional Memorial Day observance to honor the fallen was held Fountain Square on Monday, May 26. The ceremony included an Honor Guard from the Wassaic Fire Company standing by the Veterans’ Memorial Wall.

Photo by Leila Hawken

AMENIA — The community gathered at Fountain Square under sunny skies on Monday, May 26, for a Memorial Day ceremony to honor the fallen who bravely served their country. Remembrances, tributes, prayers and music combined to create the fitting annual tribute.

An Honor Guard from VFW Post #5444 of Dover Plains presented the colors at the start of the ceremony that began promptly at 11 a.m. with a welcome from VFW Commander Nick Woodard to the more than 100 who had gathered.

Keep ReadingShow less