EPIC Long Island Celebrates the Fifth Anniversary

of Their Article 31 Mental Health Clinic

Also Expands Their Mental Health Services through Strategic Partnership with
South Shore Child Guidance Center
East Meadow, NY, May 6, 2015 EPIC Long Island, which provides a wide range of clinical, community,
habilitative and residential services to those with epilepsy, developmental disabilities and mental health
challenges, is celebrating the fifth anniversary of their Article 31 Mental Health Clinic in East Meadow, LI.
When the clinic was established in 2010, EPIC Long Island was still known as the Epilepsy Foundation of Long
Island, but their name was a bit of a misnomer as the agency had been providing day programs, Article 16
clinics, and residences for individuals with developmental disabilities for over 30 years. We finally changed our
name to EPICExtraordinary People in Careand could have done it a long time ago, explained Tom
Hopkins, EPICs President and CEO. For years, we provided excellent services to thousands of Long Islanders
beyond those with epilepsy, so changing our name helped to more clearly identify what we do and communicate
our strengths to the broader community. In brief, it has made it easier for people seeking services to find us.
EPIC Long Islands clinic was the first of its kind in New York State, where licensed professionals could help
patients dealing with epilepsy and other mental health disorders in one location. The EPIC Long Island Mental
Health Clinic provides comprehensive psychological testing, evaluation, medication management, and therapy
for individuals, families, and groups. Their team of clinicians and psychiatrists are trained in treating anxiety,
depression, relationship issues, trauma, chronic psychiatric conditions (bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia), and the
emotional impact of chronic medical conditions, such as seizures and other neurological conditions.
It was important to spread the word that we not only help individuals with epilepsy, but that we also offer an
Article 31 clinic for people with mental health challenges, said Jennie Colbert, EPICs Director of Clinical
Services. In the past five years, our Article 31 Clinic has grown considerably. We now serve over 170
individuals and often get inquiries from people who need mental health care because so many other clinics in
Nassau County have been forced to close.
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In 2014, EPIC formed a strategic alliance with South Shore Child Guidance Center, a Freeport-based agency
that provides outpatient behavioral health services to children aged 5 to 18 years. The array of services provided
by South Shore includes a mental health clinic, a home-based crisis intervention program, hospital after-care
programs, and school support, and a substance abuse clinic. In fact, South Shore Child Guidance was the first in
the state to open a clinic dedicated to helping children living with substance abuse in their families.
The connection between South Shore and EPIC Long Island developed naturally, says Colbert. In speaking to
their key executives at industry events, we found out that they had a culture, commitment, organizational
structure, and management style similar to ours. We also found out that they needed help with their
infrastructure, especially in the areas of corporate compliance, electronic medical records, and human
resources. It all just seemed like a good fit.
In vivid contrast to the fate of many Long Island nonprofit mental health clinics that have recently closed,
reduced services or been sold to other agencies (and then closed due to lack of funding), South Shores
partnership with EPIC Long Island has enabled the agency to not just survive, but thrive.
We value the services that South Shore brings and want to make sure that they can continue to provide their
programs to the individuals and families that need them, said Hopkins. In fact, our partnership has actually
helped South Shore to add more services, hire more staff, and get additional training and supervision for their
employees. There were no layoffs, and both South Shore and EPIC were able to maintain their names, their
histories, their cultures and their identities.
The alliance is paying off in other ways, too. Recently, through EPICs facilitation, South Shore obtained a grant
from the Elmezzi Foundation that was used to have a third non-profit agency, Splashes of Hope, hand-paint
brightly colored murals of the four seasons in the lobby and other areas of South Shores facility.
This really has been a win-win situation for both EPIC and South Shore, said Colbert. We see our partnership
with South Shore as a continuation of our success and of our ability to grow and reach new audiences that we
can help. Just as we now mark the fifth anniversary of our Mental Health Clinic, we look forward to the day when
we will be celebrating the fifth anniversary of our alliance with South Shoreand many more to come.
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About EPIC Long Island

EPIC began in 1953 with a small group of parents whose mission was to help children with epilepsy lead
productive lives. While epilepsy remains at its core, EPIC also offers a spectrum of social and health
services for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. EPIC provides 15
residences, Article 31 and Article 16 Clinics, and dozens of programs that serve over 10,000 individuals
annually across Long Island. EPICs mission is to enrich the lives of those they serve through quality care,
a broad range of services and an unwavering commitment to excellence. To learn more, visit
www.epicli.org.
About South Shore Child Guidance Center
The South Shore Child Guidance Center is a nonprofit agency that provides comprehensive outpatient
behavioral health services to Nassau County children ages 5 to 18 years and their families. The agency
believes that navigating lifes challenges may be more difficult for some children, with family circumstances
often playing a major role in how a child copes with everyday situations. Programs include an outpatient
clinic, Childrens Addition Resource & Education (C.A.R.E.) Center, home-based crisis intervention,
aftercare program, childrens mobile crisis team, and school support. To learn more, visit
www.southshorechildguidance.org.