Family-based Mental Health Services
Family Based Mental Health Services (FBMHS) are intensive, mobile, team-delivered services for children and adolescents rendered in the home and community. These services are designed to integrate mental health treatment, family support services and case management, so that families may continue to care for their child with the least restrictive environment and to avoid out-of-home placement. Family Based Mental Health Services are intended to reduce the need for psychiatric hospitalizations and out-of-home placements by providing services that enable families to maintain their role as the primary caregiver for their children and adolescents.
Services at this level of care are intended to comprehensively address the intensive treatment needs of children and adolescents. A primary goal of Family Based Mental Health Services is to facilitate the development of a positive milieu across community based settings, which will be supportive and caring for the child or adolescent after the services are completed.
FBMHS are a comprehensive program offering intensive psychotherapeutic interventions, crisis intervention services with availability 24 hours a day and seven days a week, family support services, and case management to children, adolescents and their families. FBMHS are primarily a team delivered service, with two clinicians assigned to each family. FBMHS emphasize the importance of the interagency team meeting process. The teams and family work to identify and include all people important to the family that can be a source of support throughout the course of treatment. As a result, the Family Based team ensures that services are well coordinated and delivered in an integrated manner.
