OUR SERVICES

What do we do?

​​Lodestar Children’s Services was created to work with youth and families in their homes.  That’s our simple goal.  We are focused on trying to prevent youth from having to reside out of their homes.

We work with children and families through the NYS Office of Mental Health and Department of Health and provide services in Suffolk, Nassau, Queens, and Brooklyn.  We work with youth aged 0 to 21. Lodestar is often instrumental in changing the trajectories of their lives by being the proactive answer.

Youth have the right to have their needs supported from day one, and should not feel forced in institutionalization or placement out of the home. We believe in a ‘strengths-based’ approach, where, together, we come up with goals to capitalize on their existing strengths. This allows our clients to recognize their value and believe in the person they are. Lodestar empowers the children from the comfort of their home and emerges them in their community.

What are the services we provide?

Lodestar provides two different groups of services- Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) and Child Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS). Both service types provide support to the child and family, but have different requirements for eligibility. Some families may be eligible for both.

 

Can any child enroll?

We primarily serve youth with 1. Medicaid and 2. an active Behavioral Health Diagnosis.  Lodestar is able to help assess the need for services and diagnose, if necessary. 

For children that do not have Medicaid, there are mechanisms for these youth to receive services from Lodestar– generally, a high level of need is required.  Contact us to learn more or your local county’s SPOA (Single Point of Access).  

How do you send a referral?

Contact referrals@lodestarcs.org and we can give you more information on the referral process.