The Building Blocks Program is designed to facilitate bonding and attachment between caregivers and young children ages 0 – 5. NAC’s trained mental health clinicians specialize in treating families caring for one or more children with special medical needs and/or involved or at risk of entering the child welfare system. Building Blocks is one of the only programs in NYC to offer a dyadic (paired) therapeutic intervention in a clinic setting to this underserved and often difficult-to-reach group of high-risk parents and children.

Building Blocks therapists receive training from a group of highly trained and experienced child psychotherapists from the New York Institute of Psychotherapy Training, under the leadership of Dr. Phyllis Cohen. The foundation of the Building Blocks model is based on empathic support, with the objective of an improved parent-child attachment fostered by a therapeutic relationship with an attuned therapist who understands child development. In the Building Blocks model, we take the parents’ history into consideration, as well as whether there is any family support, the impact of the family’s involvement in the foster care system, and cultural and racial factors.

Building Blocks offers individualized intervention based on the situation and needs of the family involved. Minimally, caregivers and their young children participate in therapy together (called dyadic therapy) where a trained Therapist observes and supports the parent-child interaction. Individual therapy is also available for the parent and/or child if needed. Often parents need to process their own trauma in order to fully support their child. Building Blocks is a family-centered, strength-based modality that works as a partnership between the Therapist, parent, and child.

Treatment offered includes:

• Parent-child interaction and dyadic work focuses entirely on attachment, relationship building, bonding, sharing, and play. Video-feedback intervention is used to elicit parents’ observations and insights about their interactions with their children. A trained clinician observes and facilitates parent-child bonding while providing developmental knowledge and supporting attunement.
• Supportive individual therapy is treatment for parents who participate in Building Blocks dyadic therapy. Individual therapy is based on a comprehensive treatment plan designed to meet the parent’s individualized needs.Therapy may provide interventions to treat anxiety or depression as it relates to one’s parenting role, and/or support to process and resolve difficult memories that stem from a parent’s own traumatic history. Individual sessions extend the support given to parents and children in the dyadic therapy.
• Child-focused intervention is treatment conducted directly with the child to address his/her challenging behaviors and emotions. For children who have experienced trauma, who have comorbid medical conditions, or who have experienced other adverse childhood risk factors, individual play therapy facilitates developmental and emotional growth.

Caregivers, including birth, kinship, foster and adoptive parents, and children age 5 and under are eligible for Building Blocks treatment. We take self referrals as well as referrals from other child welfare agencies, schools, health clinics, and community providers.

We accept Medicaid and the following Medicaid managed care plans:

• Fidelis
• Healthfirst
• Amerigroup-Healthplus
• Emblem
• Affinity
• Metroplus
• United Healthcare

If you do not have insurance, please call us to discuss your situation. Our first priority is to support the bonding, attachment and well-being of caregivers and their young children.

Providing ongoing, comprehensive support remains a priority at NAC. Building Blocks participants are also eligible for the following programs: learn about the other programs and supports available to all families receiving services at NAC.

• Champions for Children’s Health
• Children and Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS)
• Family Mental Health Clinic
• Family Permanency Center
• Peter Haje Center for Center
• Educational Advocacy & Tutoring
• Youth Development & Mentoring Programs
• Recreational Services
• Food Bank
• Safe Haven LGBTQI+ Support