CORTLAND, NY (607NewsNow) — Family and Children’s Counseling Services (FCCS) has received its New York State certification as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC).

A trusted provider of mental health care and substance use counseling services in Broome, Cortland, and Madison Counties, the certification will allow FCCS to provide “whole-person-centered-care” to their patients. CEO and Executive Director of FCCS Lisa Hoeschele says they’ll be able to streamline the care their patients receive.

“If someone comes to us and is suffering from a mental health crisis or struggling with substance use, we can perform evaluations and refer them to a partner physician. Mental health and addiction are affected by so many external factors, addressing the needs of the individual and their family and better coordinating their services allows us to help them move forward with their lives in as many ways as possible,” says Hoeschele.

As a CCBHC-designated agency, Family & Children’s Counseling Services will offer:

  • Emergent crisis intervention and stabilization
  • A wider range of services beyond traditional mental health care
  • Full integration of referral opportunities for primary care and physical health needs, along with proactive coordination with other community services organizations that provide food, housing, and more
  • More specialized services for veterans and underserved populations
  • Evidence-based practices tailored to community needs
  • Access for those with a variety of insurance coverage options
CCBHC whole-person-centered-care graphic, courtesy of FCCS.

Having received the designation in July of this year, FCCS must implement a certain number of services such as veteran services, mobile services, and mental health care and substance use counseling across all ages before officially becoming a CCBHC as of October 1st, 2025.

Some of these services are already being provided by FCCS. Being available when members of the community need them is one of their core values, putting an emphasis on how crucial timeliness is.

“We provide same day access, so when someone shows up at our doors needing help, we get to serve them right away. Crises usually pop up when you least expect them, so being able to capitalize on providing immediate help with widening the range of services we offer will allow us to reach more of the community and give them a more cohesive form of treatment.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or substance use, visit the FCCS website or give them a call to learn more about how to get started.