A trusted provider of home- and community-based mental health services throughout the New York City area for nearly 40 years, VNS Health has a longstanding commitment to addressing the needs of medically complex and high-need individuals — including those with complex and chronic mental illness (SMI) and substance use conditions. As the impact of mental health on overall health continues to gain recognition, VNS Health has expanded the reach of its integrated mental health and substance use care and treatment services, designed to ensure that all New Yorkers receive the seamless, holistic support they need.
Mental Health and Substance Use Care, Hand in Hand
The fully integrated approach acknowledges the widespread effects of behavioral health problems: An estimated 67 million Americans live with at least one behavioral health condition, which together represent up to 60 percent of all medical services spending. Further, mental health and substance use conditions often co-occur and need to be treated together. Our programs ensure seamless referrals and provide access to medical care, mental health treatment, substance use treatment, and social supports, tailored to each individual’s needs.
With 18 total programs across all NYC boroughs, 500 interdisciplinary team members — including psychiatrists, licensed social workers, health coaches, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and care managers — we provide a range of coordinated behavioral health services. These services span short- and long-term interventions for individuals and families, from substance use assessment and medication management to outpatient treatment and crisis intervention.
The services cover a range of care settings and emphasize treating patients where they are — whether at home or in the community, including for unhoused individuals, regardless of their ability to pay. The goal of the services is to reduce overreliance on inpatient and emergency services while improving outcomes. Post-acute transition services are available to help patients transition from inpatient care to the community.
A Gold-Standard Care Model in the Bronx
In 2023, VNS Health’s leadership in comprehensive behavioral health and substance use disorder (SUD) care was recognized with a $4 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The grant supports implementation of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) care model, nationally recognized as the gold standard for integrated mental health and SUD care.
The hub of this model is the VNS Health Bronx clinic, a location that has long filled a critical community need by providing comprehensive mental health support for vulnerable children and families—many of whom face both mental health and substance use challenges. Now, as one of only 500 CCBHC clinics nationwide, the Bronx clinic is equipped to treat both conditions under one roof through Article 32 licensure.
With the CCBHC model, VNS Health is ensuring rapid and seamless access to care, with nine core services provided either on-site or through partnerships for individuals throughout the NYC area. It is the only such clinic in the area that is open evenings and weekends, to ensure that services are accessible outside of school or work hours.
By offering these services through one integrated hub, VNS Health aims to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and improve outcomes — reaffirming our commitment to transforming the long-term behavioral health of the communities we serve.
