Our Process

• Complete application package & release of information forms
• Obtain pertinent documentation & evaluations
• Collaboration with referring professional/school
• Conferral and consultation with other professionals on the treatment team
• Initial consultations with parents/child
• Develop interim preservation/reunification plan in conjunction with originating program
• Crisis intervention/case consultation (24/7)

Family Assessment Phase

The Importance of a Family Assessment

• It provides a customized in-home evaluation of your family system, patterns, dynamics, interactions, potential problem areas and needs that will help facilitate the development of a comprehensive family plan to include all members of the family.
• Family assessments are like planning a route; they determine your precise location and situation and provide you with specific directions to reach your destination or outcomes.
• In-home family assessments are an intensive, efficient, resourceful and a non-traditional approach (as compared to a more traditional outpatient approach) to help you identify potential landmines, providing insight and prioritizing your needs as a family.
• In-home family assessments provide you with the tools and resources needed to make conscientious and objective decisions regarding future treatment, interventions, and support services for your family.

Composition of a Family Assessment

• Non-invasive, where our therapist blends into your family life and routine with the minimal amount of upheaval.
• Informal and non-traditional, where we spend time with each member of the family individually and collectively building rapport, observing and learning about your family.
• All family members complete several computerized questionnaires and assessment tools designed to gather objective information about your family. These include such instruments as the Color Code, a personality test, FACES IV, a family adaptability and cohesion evaluation scale, and RELATE, a computer-based measure designed to evaluate the parental relationship.
• A formal interview, part of the assessment involves a list of standardized questions, these are directed to both the parents and siblings.
• Comprehensive review of all pertinent documentation to include but not limited to psychological reports, academic testing, treatment discharge summaries, therapy and medical records, school transcripts etc.
• Conferral and collaboration with other professionals on the treatment team including but not limited to psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, educational consultants, therapists, school professionals etc.
• Overview of all facets of the Family Assessment, development of a written summary containing specific therapeutic recommendations for each member of the family both individually and collectively.

Who benefits from a Family Assessment?

• Family Assessments are specifically customized to suit the needs of your family. We work with a cross-section of families to include traditional intact families, divorced or separated families and blended or step families.
• The services are designed to support families in crisis in which children or adolescents are either at imminent risk of being sent away or have already been placed outside their homes.
• The family assessment is for birth and adoptive families and is effective in facilitating reunification services as well as for placement prevention. The goal is to keep children and adolescents safe and avoid both unnecessary removal and unnecessarily long separations from family in out-of-home programs.
• Families that are in the low to moderate distress range are more empowered by the Family Assessment and more apt to incorporate the recommendations.

Intervention Phase

The intervention phase of the program is marked by intensive delivery of services to the family in their own home and the development of a comprehensive family plan. The frequency, length and intensity of these services are customized based on the Family Assessment and specific goals, objectives and desired outcomes. Services may be provided directly or through a referral to a local provider and may include, but are not limited to, any of the following

• Love & Logic Parenting workshop
• Gorski Relapse Prevention program
• Communication skills training
• Behavior management techniques
• Therapeutic interventions
• Conflict management
• Emancipation & life skills training
• School interventions
• Tutoring
• Case Management
• Networking
• Consultation
• Mentoring
• Extra-curricular programming
• Summer programs
• Concrete and advocacy services

Resolution Phase

The resolution phase of the program provides continued support and resources through the means of telephone and e-mail to help resolve any problems or issues that may arise following the intervention level of services. During this phase, families are continually monitored with respect to progress, functioning and safety for up to one year following the intervention. At any time during this period, families may request supplemental services, further support or merely reassurance.

• Consultation Package: Crisis intervention/case consultation 24 hours a day/7days a week.
• Case Management Package: Coordination, management and accountability of all components of the Service Plan: Home, school, employment, treatment, drug testing, legal, extra-curricular activities, social etc.
• Networking Package: Community networking/researching and referral to appropriate community resources.
• Case Management/Consultation Combination Package:
• Therapeutic Package: Outreach counseling/therapy sessions via teleconference 4x30mins 4x60mins
• Video Conferencing Package: Web Cam and software