MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of the Western New York Children’s Psychiatric Center is to provide high quality, comprehensive behavioral health care services to seriously emotionally disturbed children and adolescents, and to partner with their families throughout the continuum of care. Together we are building a trauma sensitive system of care and creating a violence free, safe and therapeutic environment.

VISION STATEMENT:
To promote an environment of empathy through education, role modeling, healthy choices and healthy relationships. To increase hope, dignity and empowerment through shared governance and open communication.

Description:
The Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center, located 17 miles southeast of Buffalo, is a state operated psychiatric hospital that serves eight counties in Western New York - Erie, Niagara, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming and Allegany. In addition, WNYCPC Community Services operates several programs in the western New York community serving emotionally ill children, adolescents and their families.

PHILOSOPHY OF TREATMENT:
Children are admitted to the Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center because they are currently, or are at risk of becoming a danger to themselves or others. Their level of disability is such that they are unable to function safely in their educational and/or living situation. The Philosophy of Treatment at the Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center is twofold: (a) to ameliorate the identifiable behavioral symptoms through the use of varied treatment modalities and (b) to assure that the underlying issues which contribute to an individual's dysfunction are addressed through comprehensive assessment, treatment and discharge planning.

The Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center is committed to providing the highest quality of care and treatment to enable each child to reach his/her optimal level of functioning. Services are combined to obtain the benefits of psychiatric/medical, social, psychological, psycho educational, and behavioral therapies within the context of humanistic and positive concern. We expect the involvement of families at all levels of treatment and are sensitive to family concerns regarding the treatment process. The staff recognizes the rights of all patients at the Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center and fully protects these individual rights. Foremost, we protect the patient's rights to a safe environment.

The Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center is cognizant of cultural and socioeconomic differences, and as such, strives to be responsible to the individual needs of children and their families.

WNYCPC VALUES AND PRINCIPLES:

Family Centered – Shared decision-making with children, families and community service providers offering respect, hope and independence. Treatment and care is family oriented and strength based.

Respect – For the children, adolescents, families and all of those with whom we work. Recognizing families as unique with their own traditions, beliefs and values.

Recovery – Recognizing trauma and other recovery needs through empathy, on a daily basis, in policies and practices. Promoting healing and growth for everyone in the therapeutic community.

Learning – Encouraging all individuals to use systems of care that promote recovery principles, including empathy. Interactions are based on evidence for best practice and competence, in order that these approaches and rationales be applied throughout the continuum of care.

Ownership – Opportunities for all to participate, teach and empower ourselves and others. Together, we all share in violence reduction, therefore creating a safer and more therapeutic community.

History:
INPATIENT SERVICES
Since 1970, the WNYCPC has an inpatient capacity of 46 beds, which is divided into three living units. Children's Services - Unit 806, with a bed capacity of 12, serves children between the ages of four and twelve. Adolescent Services - Unit 805, with a bed capacity of 16, serves adolescents between the ages of eleven and eighteen. Intensive Treatment Unit - Unit 807, with a bed capacity of 18 is an Intensive Treatment Unit designed to service hard to manage adolescents. All living units are co-ed. Children's Services, Adolescent Services and the Secure Care Unit each function multi-disciplinary team approach. A program manager is administratively responsible for all staff on the unit, while a unit psychiatrist has clinical responsibility for all aspects of treatment.

WNYCPC COMMUNITY SERVICES HEADQUARTERS:
Several outpatient programs moved to 575 Alberta Drive, Amherst, NY. as of April, 2004.

There are several opportunities to volunteer at both, the WNYCPC, and the WNYCPC Community Services headquarters. Please contact Patricia Moran, Coordinator of Volunteer Services, to learn more about these opportunities.

Contact person: Patricia M. Moran, Coordinator of Volunteer Services, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (716) 675-6455

Address:

1010 East & West Road West Seneca, NY 14224 (See a map)

Web Site: None specified

Directions:

From the NYS Thruway (I-90): Take exit 54 to Route 400. Continue on Route 400 until you see the Union Road Exit South. Proceed south on Union Road (Route 277) approximately 1.5 miles (just beyond the South Gate. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Southgate Plaza, 2 Miles minute walk