Project Hope, our January 16 Program

The New York State Office of Mental Health has created the Project Hope Crisis Counseling Program to assist individuals, families, and groups impacted by the disaster caused by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. Project Hope offers free and confidential supportive counseling and public education services to Hurricane Sandy disaster victims in New York City and Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, and Westchester Counties. Project Hope was initiated in November 2012 and it is anticipated that it will operate until fall 2013.

Project Hope provides one-to-one or group counseling services wherever you wish to have them: in your home, place of work, community centers, schools or houses of worship. At a time of crisis, during holidays and at anniversaries of the event, many people find it helpful to have someone who cares, someone who listens. Along with providing support, Project Hope staff help individuals to understand their reactions to the disaster and its aftermath. We help you to think about options and to find people or agencies that can assist with any disaster-related problems.

Key Principles of the Project Hope Crisis Counseling Program

·         Strengths Based—Program services promote resilience, empowerment, and recovery.
·         Anonymous—Crisis counselors do not classify, label, or diagnose people; no records or case files are kept.
·         Outreach Oriented—Crisis counselors deliver services in the communities rather than wait for survivors to seek their assistance.
·         Conducted in Nontraditional Settings—Crisis counselors make contact in homes and communities, not in clinical or office settings.
·         Designed to Strengthen Existing Community Support Systems—The program supplements, but does not supplant or replace, existing community systems.

All Project Hope services are free and confidential.