Guide to Treatment for Children With Mental Health Needs - Children With Mental Health Needs

Written by SAMHSA

What you can do

Schedule the first visit at your (and your child's) convenience.

Bring:

• Someone you trust with you (for example, a parent advocate) to the first visit, and to any meetings later on;
• Your folder or notebook of information and some identification, such as driver's license, social security number, or birth certificate; and
• Proof of medical insurance, a Medicaid card, or evidence of your need for financial assistance (such as a pay stub or rent receipt).

Answer questions honestly and give accurate information about your child's strengths and needs.

Remember that there is no such thing as a "dumb" or "foolish" question.

Request information, and ask anything you want to know more about or do not understand.

advertisement

Write down your questions before you go to the meeting.

Write down the answers to your questions and the names and phone numbers of people you want to get in touch with, and of those who will be working with your child and family.

Get a brochure or write down information about the agency's services, fees, payment options, procedures, and appeal process.

Request a written explanation if you are told that your child and family are not eligible for services.

Do your own homework. Get another opinion, and ask for a referral to another service or program that could help you.

What you can expect

You will be asked many questions about your child and family. The intake worker will want to know things such as:

• What things your child does well;
• What you think the problems are, and how they affect your family;
• What you want help with;
• What kind of insurance you have or how the services will be paid for; and
• Who or what has been helpful in the past.

You will be asked to sign many forms such as:

• Permission for your child to be tested;
• Permission to gather or release information; and
• Agreement to accept and pay for services.

It's okay if you feel tired and a bit stressed when the first visit is over.

Set a date to meet with your service planning team.

Partnering With Service Providers

Your child and family will be working with individual service providers and a service planning team. Building partnerships among families, individual providers, and service planning teams is hard work. Everyone has to be courteous and honest to gain the respect and confidence of others.

You are the customer and the client. Tell your service planning team and service providers what services and supports you need. Be clear about your family's strengths, your needs, and what you think will help your child and family the most.

What you need to know

You and your system of care service planning team will work together to write a service plan specifically designed for your child and family, including:

• Goals to achieve;
• Services and supports provided as close to home as possible;
• Services and supports that match your family's lifestyle and culture; and
• Regular progress reports and an ongoing communication plan for the service providing team.

A service coordinator or case manager can help organize services so they are easy for you to use, and can help provide your family with guidance and support. In some systems of care, you can be your family's service coordinator.

All providers may not agree or recommend the same services and supports for you and your family. You can disagree with a provider, get a second opinion, or reject a service provider's advice.

Providers and services that are considerate and respectful of your family's language, spiritual beliefs, and cultural values must be accessible to you.