Eligibility
Children’s mental health services may be accessed through a voluntary application to the Department or by court order. For voluntary services the applicant must:
a. Be under eighteen (18) years of age;
b. Reside within the state of Idaho; and
c. Have an Axis I mental health disorder as defined by the DSM-IV-TR. A substance use disorder alone, or developmental disorder alone, does not constitute an eligible Axis I diagnosis, although one (1) or more of these conditions may coexist with an eligible Axis I diagnosis*; and
d. Have a substantial functional impairment as assessed by using the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) or the Preschool and Early Child Functional Assessment Scale (PECFAS). Substantial functional impairment requires a full eight (8) (CAFAS) or seven (7) (PECFAS) scale score of eighty (80) or higher with “moderate” impairment in at least one (1) of the following three (3) scales:
1. self-harmful behavior,
2. moods/emotions, or
3. thinking
The court may order the Department to provide services under Idaho Code 20-511A if the court determines the child has a serious emotional disturbance as defined in Idaho Code 16-2403(13). Involuntary treatment may also be ordered by the court under the Children’s Mental Health Services Act, Idaho Code Title 16, Chapter 24.
*A child with a diagnosis of substance use disorder alone, or developmental disorder alone, may be eligible for substance use disorders services or developmental disabilities services through respective Department programs.
Services
Assessment – the gathering of historical and current clinical information through a clinical interview and from other available resources to identify the child’s mental health issues, the child’s strengths, the family’s strengths, and the service needs.
Case Management – a change-oriented service provided to families that assures and coordinates the provision of an assessment, treatment planning, treatment and other services, protection, advocacy, review and reassessment, documentation, and timely closure of a case.
Crisis Response – services for a child that involves immediate actions taken to assess risk or intervene in an emergency where a child’s condition, as evidenced by recent behavior, poses a significant threat to the health or safety of the child, his family or others.
Day Treatment Services – Intensive nonresidential services that include an integrated set of educational, clinical, social, vocational, and family interventions provided on a regularly scheduled, typically daily, basis.
Family Support Services – Assistance provided to a family to assist them in caring for their child. The purpose of Family Support Services is to strengthen adults in their role as parents through the provision of services including: assistance with transportation, family counseling services, training, education, and emergency assistance funds.
Independent Living – Services provided to eligible foster or former foster youth ages 15 to 21 years of age to support a successful transition to adulthood.
Inpatient Services – Mental health and medical services provided to a child admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
Outpatient Services – Mental health services provided to a child who is not admitted to a psychiatric hospital or in a residential treatment setting.
Residential Treatment – A treatment facility licensed as a children’s residential care facility that provides twenty-four (24) hour care in a highly-structured setting delivering substitute parental care and mental health services.
Respite Care – Time-limited care provided to children. Respite care is used in circumstances requiring short-term, temporary care of a child by a caregiver different from his usual caregiver. The duration of an episode of respite care ranges from one (1) partial day up to fourteen (14) consecutive days.
Treatment Foster Care – A service that provides clinical intervention for children within the private homes of trained, licensed foster parents.
Wraparound – a planning process that brings together a team of professionals and citizens working together to support children and their families. Members of the team include the child, family members, representatives of public and private agencies, civic groups, and other community members. Services and supports focus on the strengths of the child and the family, are provided in the local community, and are customized to fit the individual culture of the family.