Community Resources

Please also see our Programs & Services for a complete listing of available programs and services.

Erie Path is Erie County's new smartphone app that helps parents and caregivers address the mental and behavioral health challenges faced by children and adolescents. 
Visit our Erie Path web page for instructions on how to download and use the Erie Path App.

• Find available programs and services for children and adolescents
• Access information that explains what their children and adolescents may face
• Explore practical strategies for helping children and adolescents in their care

Erie Path also includes resources for adult mental and behavioral health services, information for housing, employment, childcare, food pantries, medical care, social services and senior services that can benefit adults and caregivers. The app allows you to search for Programs and Services and Informational Materials in 3 different ways:

• You can search by program or agency name
• You can search by keyword
• You can search using the guided search 

211 WNY is your free and confidential link to health and human services. You can visit their website to explore local resources online using their "find resources" search option, or 24 hours a day, 7 days a week people can dial 211 or 1-888-696-9211 and talk to a trained information & referral specialist who is able to identify services in the community that can provide them with the help they need. 
*You can also connect to 211 WNY by Texting your zip code to 898211, the Text option is available Monday-Friday 8:30am-3:30pm.

See the Erie County Housing Resource Guide for information on: Employment/Workforce, Affordable Housing, Development Opportunities, and Legal Services.

Narcan Information

Problem Gambling Assistance NYS HOPEline for help and hope 24/7, call 1-877-8-HOPENY or Text HOPENY (467369).
 

Mental Health Services:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. When you call, text, or chat 988, your conversation is confidential. 988 provides you judgment-free care. Talking with someone can help save your life. 

• For deaf or hard of hearing ASL users, call 988 Videophone – click here to read the terms of service
• Online chat – Click the chat button below
• 988 Text – Send any message to 988 to start a text conversation
• For TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.

If you’re having trouble accessing the 988 ASL Videophone, you can Contact Us to share the technical challenges you’re experiencing so we can get things fixed.

988 Veterans Crisis Line: 24/7 confidential crisis support for Veterans and their loved ones. You don't have to be enrolled in VA benefits or health care to connect. Dial 988 then Press 1.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Buffalo 
Offers Family Support Groups that are free, confidential and safe groups of families helping other families who live with Mental Health challenges. This group is not appropriate for a person who has a diagnosis unless they are attending as a caregiver of a loved one who has mental illness. To view NAMI's 2024 Calendar for Family Support Group listings for online support dates and in-person dates, times and locations. Pre-registration is required for the online Family Support Group. To ask to register for online support groups, email to online@namibuffalony.org with your name, the online group date you are requesting, the name of the group you wish to attend, and a phone number where we can reach you to provide registration details. You do not need to register for the in-person groups, just go to the meetings at their scheduled date and location to attend.  For questions, call the office at 716-226-6264.
 

ECMC Help Center 
Offers Immediate Mental Health Crisis Support and Treatment 
An urgent care service for walk-in mental health treatment of adults who do not require psychiatric emergency treatment or inpatient care. Contact us at 716-898-1594 for further information.

Walk-in Hours
Monday – Friday 8:00am-12:00 midnight
Weekends & Holidays: 8:00am-12:00 midnight

Virtual Visit Hours
In addition to the walk-in service, the Help Center offers virtual visits without leaving the comfort of your own home Monday – Friday 8:00am 9:30pm. You will speak with a licensed mental health clinician who will assist and support your needs. Visit: ecmc.edu/ecmc-virtual-helpcenter-visits to schedule a virtual visit. Click here to view flyer.
Here’s an overview of conditions we can evaluate and help treat through a virtual visit:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Obsessive thoughts and behaviors
• Hallucinations
• Feelings of hopelessness / helplessness
• Note: Immediate medication is not guaranteed
• Counselors can also provide assistance for follow-up appointments with ECMC’s Partial Hospitalization Program, Adult & Family Clinic, Downtown Clinic, MAP Clinic for medication/prescriptions, as well as other area resources.
   

The Kirsten Vincent Respite & Recovery Center 
Is a haven for individuals in mental health crisis looking for a safe place to continue their journey to recovery. Recovery Options Made Easy, in collaboration with WNY Independent Living and Spectrum Health and Human Services, offers crisis stabilization and continued recovery in one location in downtown Buffalo, NY. This first-of-its-kind respite and recovery model offers recovery support across the continuum of care with internal services in tandem with external community programs. The Kirsten Vincent Respite & Recovery Center provides multiple alternatives to hospitalization. Individuals can receive support across four-programs whose objective is to help individuals continue their recovery journey in a community setting.  All programs are voluntary and self-referred. Please call 716-532-5508 to be directed to one of the programs listed.

Erie County Warmline: 
Call 716-248-2941 or Text 716-392-221 free for all callers for peer-provided support when having a difficulty coping with life experiences.  Open daily from 4pm - 11pm.  NOTE: THIS WARMLINE IS FOR NON-CRISIS CALLS - If you are in crisis, please contact the Crisis Hotline: 716-834-3131.
 

Substance Use Disorder Services:

"Words Matter," Talking About Yourself or Others With Substance Use Disorders

Drug Overdose Resource Guide for Community Members

Drug Overdose Resource Guide for Public Safety & Service Providers

Housing resources for those recovering from substance abuse disorders

Addiction Information and Services

Narcotics Anonymous for the Western New York Region - Click Here to see flyer regarding finding Help to stop using drugs and/or to find a Meeting; including Online Meetings.  

NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS): visit OASAS.ny.gov

NYS HOPEline: Call: 877-846-7369 or Text: 467369
 

Co-Occurring Conditions:

Providers willing to serve adolescents with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder