The Crisis Intervention Program provides support and assistance to families and other care-providers when a person with a developmental disability is in a crisis situation involving their behavior, health, or involvement in the community. The program offers support to persons with developmental disabilities so that they may adequately function in family, community and work settings.

The Crisis Intervention Program is a partnership between and supported by the Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Services Office and Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, University of Rochester. There is no cost to qualified individuals.

What is a Crisis Situation?

Eligibility is determined using the following New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (NYS OMRDD) definitions:

Emergency – A situation where, because of an individual's behavioral or family/primary caregiver situation factors, there is a need for (1) immediate alternative day or residential placement; or (2) immediate specialized clinical services (medical, behavioral or habilitation).
At Risk – A situation where a specific or time-limited problem resulting from behaviors or situational factors disrupts the individual’s optimal functioning in his/her place of residence or habitation program and causes the person to be at risk of losing his/her services. There is a need for either an increase in intensity of services currently being delivered or introduction of additional time-limited services to restore equilibrium between the individual and the service delivery system.
Short Term Assistance – A situation where 24-hour linkage and referral services are needed for ongoing services by the disabled individual and/or the family/primary caregiver to address a behavioral or situational factor. There is not necessarily a request for alternate placement, or an increase in services currently being delivered.

Services We Provide

Behavioral assessment to understand and identify behaviors that drive crisis situations
Establish guidelines for parents and care givers to manage difficult behaviors
Psychological Consultation to the treatment team
Psychiatric Consultation to the treatment team
Assist in planning with mental health agencies and emergency departments
Provide recommendations for long term services
Short - term case management to assist in treatment planning and accessing long term services for individuals who do not have service coordination

Training can be at home, residence, school or in a day program. Services are based on individual needs, situation and assessment.

Our Team

Virginia E. Giesow, M.A., Program Director
Linda Quijano, M.S., Behavior Management Specialist
Larry Unger, Ph.D., Behavior Management Specialist
Bonnie Kramer, Ph.D., Consulting Licensed Psychologist
Jack Rozel, M.D.
Lisa Skavienski, Secretary

Contact Us

Crisis Intervention Program
Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics
Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong
Box 671, 601 Elmwood Avenue
Rochester, New York 14642

Phone: (585) 275-5599
Fax: (585) 276-0433

Office Hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 5:00.

On-call services are available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week to assist with immediate emergencies. Call (585) 275-5599.

Referrals

Our services are available to all Monroe County residents who are diagnosed as developmentally disabled according to the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (NYS OMRDD). Referrals to the Crisis Intervention Program can be made by:

Developmental Disabilities Agencies providing direct care to the individual
Mental Health Agencies providing either acute or chronic care to the individual
Families (direct request)

To make a referral, call (585) 275-5599.

** Referrals should be made with prior approval of the senior administrator of the referring agency, and concurrence of parents/guardian and mental health personnel already involved with the individual’s care plan.

Back to Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics