Managing Your Referral to Family and Children's Services of Ithaca 

Why am I being referred?

Gannett’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is committed to ensuring that students in need of counseling and support receive the attention they require in a timely fashion.  In order to achieve this goal, CAPS has developed a close partnership with Family and Children’s Service (F&CS) of Ithaca.
We are referring you to F&CS because we believe they will be able to work effectively with you to address your concerns in a timely way.

Where am I going?

F&CS is an established, high-quality, community health resource that has been providing care to young adults, including Cornell students, for many years. The oldest existing human services agency in Tompkins County, their staff can assist Cornell students wanting help with numerous personal issues. Their goal is to: “provide focused mental health services that promote and strengthen emotional and social relationships contributing to a more secure, stable and productive life.”

What services can I receive?

F&CS can provide Cornell students with the following services:

· Assessment
· Individual, couples, and family therapy
· Parent/child consultations
· Medication in conjunction with individual therapy

When are they open?

The hours of operation at F&CS are as follows:

• Mon–Thurs . . . . 8:30 a.m.– 7 p.m.
• Friday . . . . . . .  8:30 a.m.– 5 p.m.

How do I get an appointment?

Once you are referred to Family and Children’s Services (F&CS), you must obtain the appropriate referral form(s) from CAPS. If you have health insurance, the referral form is needed to facilitate claims procedures. Keep in mind that separate referral forms are required for different types of treatment (psychotherapy or medication management) or any time you see a new counselor.

After you have obtained the referral form, call F&CS (273-7494) at your earliest convenience to make your appointment.

What about cost and insurance?

F&CS is a provider with Chickering, the carrier for the Cornell Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). If you have SHIP, visits with F&CS are covered according to the current plan benefit structure. You will be responsible for the co-payment ($20 per visit) or any out-of-pocket costs if the plan benefit under the SHIP is exhausted.
If you do not have SHIP, it is your responsibility to find out if your insurance provider will cover your visits to F&CS. You may be required to pay a different co-pay amount or to pay for your full visit.
Note: If fees exceed your ability to pay, you can discuss payment options at the time you make your appointment with F&CS.

Where is my counseling record kept?

Your record is kept at Family and Children’s Services (F&CS). Copies do not come back to Gannett. F&CS will not release information about your visits without your written permission, except under a court order or where otherwise under a court order or where otherwise situation or a need for an emergency hospitalization. This means that, aside from receiving confirmation that you were seen at F&CS, CAPS staff will not receive any progress notes.

What if the referral to F&CS does not work for me?

If you discontinue services at F&CS for any reason, or never go at all, please call CAPS at 255-5208 and let our staff know as soon as possible. If you need other arrangements for services, we can help meet your needs in a timely fashion.

If you experience difficulty with your referral process, please call CAPS at 255-5208 and ask for help.

Easy as:

• Complete your Consultation and Referral (C&R) with CAPS. Be sure to obtain the referral form to ensure insurance coverage.
• Call 273-7494 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to schedule an intake appointment at Family and Children’s Service.
• Walk, drive or take a bus or taxi to Family and Children’s Service. (Get directions).

Where is Family & Children's Service?

F&CS has two locations in downtown Ithaca: 204 N.Cayuga and 127 W. State Street.

To get to either location on bus, consider taking the Rt. 30 bus from Collegetown (Performing Arts Ctr.) down to the bus stop at the corner of Tioga and Seneca. You can walk to either of the two F&CS locations from there. Note: the #10 and #51 buses also make limited runs to this bus stop. Consult your T-CAT schedule for details.

For more information

Contact Gannett
*main number: (607) 255-5155
*CAPS phone: 255-5208
Contact Family and Children's Service:
*phone: (607) 273-7494