Northwell Health has established a partnership with the William Floyd School District and other districts across Long Island to expand access to behavioral and mental health services for children. The collaboration aims to support schools by providing mental health education, training, and consultation.
Through this initiative, Northwell’s Behavioral Health Centers (BHCs) offer urgent or same-day intervention for students between the ages of 5 and 18 who need immediate behavioral or mental health care but do not require emergency room services. These centers also provide short-term crisis care and follow-up, as well as assistance in connecting families with ongoing community resources.
The William Floyd School District is connected with the Riverhead Behavioral Health Center located at 877 E. Main St., Riverhead, NY. The center operates Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Families can contact the center at (631) 803-3104 or via email at RIVBH@northwell.edu.
The Behavioral Health Center conducts focused evaluations by a mental health clinician and a child and adolescent psychiatrist to assess safety concerns and further needs. Medication may be initiated if necessary, following parental consent. If hospitalization is recommended, the doctor will arrange for admission procedures through an emergency department.
"Medication may be started when indicated with parental consent, and all necessary information to start medication is available," according to information provided about the service.
"The doctor may recommend that your child be admitted to the hospital. This may require your child to be taken to the emergency department for medical clearance and to complete the admission process."
Documentation from visits is recorded in medical records which can be requested by parents after completing a release form; processing such requests may take up to ten days. Clearance letters for school return are available when appropriate, but additional forms for court or placement purposes cannot be provided beyond medical records and school clearance documentation.
Families are encouraged to reach out even if they lack insurance coverage, as Northwell Health will work directly with insurance providers or assist those without insurance.
For ongoing support, transitional care—including in-person short-term help or telephonic follow-up—is offered until outpatient treatment connections are made. However, these centers do not provide long-term treatment nor perform physical exams or diagnostic tests.
Parents can initiate access either by contacting the Riverhead Behavioral Health Center directly or through their child's school counselor.
As part of its outreach efforts, Northwell offers community education webinars on behavioral health topics via YouTube videos under "Community and Population Health - Behavioral Health." The School Mental Health Partnership also provides a digital "Resiliency Toolkit," an online library of downloadable resources addressing various family needs related to mental health conditions and treatment options; resources are updated regularly in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
Additional phone numbers for crisis support services include:
- Long Island Crisis Center: 516-679-1111
- Center for Hope: 516-216-5194
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 988
- South Oaks Hospital Admissions: 631-608-5885
- Cohen Children’s Medical Center Pediatric Behavioral Health Urgent Care: 718-470-3148
Further parent resources include guides on what to expect during visits, schedules for community education series during the upcoming academic year, and monthly newsletters.