The impact of in-home behavioral health services on children's development can be a vital element of the overall success of a treatment program. Several studies have shown that these services can significantly improve a child's medical outcome; however, it's essential to ensure that these services are provided in a way that is effective, safe and appropriate for the needs of each child. Here are a few guidelines for ensuring that in-home behavioral health services provide a safe and effective way to meet your child's medical needs while supporting their development.
Improve Treatment Outcomes
For children dealing with mental illness and substance use disorder symptoms, these intensive In-home behavioral health services for children are essential for their development. These multidisciplinary interventions are often used as an alternative to hospital stays or other out-of home placement. Generally, they are provided in the child's home, although they are not required to be.
Intensive in-home behavioral health services include interventions aimed at improving family interaction. A child's behaviors can interfere with the family's ability to communicate and function. Other services offered include individual counseling, family therapy, and advocacy in the juvenile court system.
In-home behavioral health services are delivered by qualified, certified professionals. Interventions are delivered three or four times a week, depending on the severity of the child's symptoms. The initial duration of care is usually four weeks. However, the number of weekly services and duration may change depending on the needs of the child.
Behavior Support Plan
The behavior support plan is a document that provides caregivers with strategies to help them respond effectively to challenging behaviors. These strategies are designed to decrease the frequency and severity of behaviors and teach children new skills to replace them. Behavioral intervention programs are individualized based on family needs. A behavior support team helps ensure the plan is implemented and tracked.
Behavior support teams include professionals with behavioral expertise, parents, teachers, and administrators. They develop and implement a behavior support plan and provide ongoing professional development for staff. Team members also observe and generate ideas and strategies for addressing challenging behaviors.
Teams can be integrated into IEP/IFSP meetings and arranged for regular team check-ins. During these meetings, the team will discuss challenges and successes in implementing the behavior support plan.
Families should be included in the process and provided with an opportunity to give information. Throughout the plan's development, the behavior support team will monitor the child's progress, including how frequently the child engages in challenging behaviors. This data will determine treatment progress and if adjustments to the behavior plan are needed.
Other Strategies to Include
In-home behavioral services should be just one piece of the treatment plan. There are other therapies and treatments that can further support and help improve the child’s behaviors. One-on-one counseling utilizing Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy can give the child additional skills to help them cope with their emotions and behaviors.
Equine psychotherapy is another mode of treatment for those with behavioral needs. While the concept of working with horses and other animals to help with stress, depression and anxiety has been around for ages, the positive effects have been scientifically studied and documented.
Meet a Child's Medical Need
In-home behavioral health services are a great way to meet a child's medical and emotional needs before moving to a more restrictive environment. WHOA offers these services and more, to children under the age of 21 with psychosocial needs in Hopewell, VA. Our in-home services are provided by licensed therapists who work with the people and organizations that are important to the child’s life.
WHOA also provides crisis services if in-home behavioral health services aren't adequate. The benefits are available 24 hours a day and can be used to support a child in a crisis. Mobile crisis teams can be brought to a child's home to provide services if necessary; however, sometimes a more intensive approach is needed, and a hospital stay may be required. It may be in the child's best interest to have a short-term hospitalization for a diagnosis or treatment. This setting allows for safe, 24-hour monitoring where medication changes and behaviors can be closely observed.
When you seek services for your child through WHOA, you get a team of professionals who work with you to develop a holistic, team approach. We care about your child’s wellbeing and have a number of services that the whole family can access to help make the process of treatment easier on all of you. For your convenience, WHOA offers some services via telehealth if you are not able to access services in person. Reach out today to speak to one of our staff and let us get you and your family on the right path to success.
