EDWIN FAIR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, INC.
POLICY AND PROCEDURES
CHILD / ADOLESCENT OUTPATIENT SERVICES
Philosophy:
Children and Adolescent Services are designed to serve consumers in greatest need within the
limitations of contractual and budgeting constraints. Children and Adolescent Outpatient
Services has a goal of making continued progress in providing recovery oriented, culturally
competent, trauma informed, gender sensitive, and age appropriate services to our consumers.
Furthermore, we feel that it is important to not create undue barriers for consumers accessing our
services and that we provide a welcoming environment. The provision of outpatient services to
children, adolescents, and their families by Edwin Fair Community Mental Health Center
(EFCMHC) is based on the belief that this younger age population presents mental health-related
problems, which necessitate intervention and treatment just as the adult population. Mood
disorders, suicide risk, substance abuse, social maladjustment (both within and outside the
family), school problems and developmental disorders are some of the more common
impairments of children and young which can respond to appropriate mental health services.
Not only does therapeutic treatment bring relief of disabling symptoms for the younger
consumer, but also often is a prevention measure in curtailing the risk of continued or more
serious mental health problems in adulthood. Therefore assessments will be provided with
respect to the child's or adolescent's age, development, culture and education.
Children’s Services are to be consistent with a Systems of Care model, which is child centered,
family driven, community based, needs driven, and culturally competent. Children's Services at
EFCMHC are committed to the involvement of families in treatment of children and adolescents.
This may include biological parents, legal guardians, foster parents or state caseworkers if the
child or youth is in custody of that agency. Many children and youth can respond beneficially to
a therapeutic relationship in individual and group therapies. However, it is often the work with
families that will bring about more significant and longer lasting changes for the consumer.
Parents are helped to understand their child's behavior and feelings and learn new parenting
skills. Services are designed and implemented for consumers to support recovery, health, and
well being; enhance the quality of life; reduce symptoms suffered from mental illness; build
resilience; restore and/or improve functioning; and support integration into the community.
Additionally, it is our belief that facilitating more positive communications and attitudes within
the family enhance the benefits from mental health intervention.
Program Descriptions and Services:
Child / Adolescent Outpatient Services at EFCMHC are available for children, youth, and their
families at sites in Ponca City (Kay County), Pawhuska (Osage County), Stillwater (Payne
County), and Perry (Noble County) and provided in the community in Pawnee County.
Services to children and their families may include treatment approaches such as individual
therapy, group therapy, family therapy, rehabilitation, wraparound, as well as case management
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and parent counseling. Staff are encouraged to use research-based therapies when clinically
indicated, such as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma
Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Therapy, and Brief Strategic Family
Therapy. Medication management is available on a limited basis via our consulting psychiatrist.
Specialty services such as Crisis Diversion and Wraparound are also available. These services
address crisis situations and children with multi-systemic needs. EFCMHC’s Children Mobile
Crisis Team are available on a 24/7 basis. The wraparound staff is limited to a case load of 15-20
families and utilizes a team approach of formal and informal supports. This team looks at the
strengths, culture and needs of the family and then “wraps” services around the family.
Applicants Appropriate for Services:
Any child from age 0 to 18 who has a diagnosable mental health condition that impairs the
child's capacity to perform or behave at an age-appropriate level is considered to be a primary
candidate for outpatient assessment and/or treatment.
Children under age three often require referrals to other child specialists in order to make a full
diagnostic evaluation along with the Outpatient therapist's assessment. In such situations, the
child may be accepted as the primary patient, but the parents are offered services through
consultation and parent counseling as considered appropriate for the situation.
Children with SED who have initiated services prior to their eighteenth (18th) birthday can
continue to receive Department-funded services as a transition-age-youth through their 22nd
birthday, provided there are plans to assist the youth to continue care in the adult service system,
as needed.
Applicants Not Appropriate for Services:
Youth who have reached age 18 and are not attending secondary school.
Children with severe developmental disabilities who require health and other specialized services
which outpatient care cannot provide.
Children and youth who have severe conduct or emotional disorders which cause the child/youth
to be a risk to himself or others and cannot safely be treated on an outpatient basis until
stabilization. In an instance such as this gatekeeping services may be recommended. We will
assist the parent/guardian in accessing the appropriate resources.
Youth with severe substance abuse problems who require inpatient treatment are not appropriate
for outpatient services.
Children and youth whose parents will not give consent for on-going treatment. Consideration
will be given as to whether such situations fall under the state Reporting Law mandating the
reporting of suspected abuse and/or neglect.
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Clinical Staff and Supervision:
Policy:
All clinical staff providing services to children / youth are given clinical privilege for treatment
of this population. Privileging is granted by the Executive Director upon recommendation by the
Clinical Director. Requirements for privileging include a combination of education, experience
and on-going training in children's treatment / diagnostic issues.
A newly hired licensed eligible staff member in the Children's program will be asked to begin
immediately the process of acquiring licensure in his/her field; i.e. licensed professional
counselor, psychology, or social work.
The Management Team arranges for supervision of the staff. Some supervision may be
delegated to a senior clinician, particularly if that clinician has been designated to supervise a
new employee for licensure.
Senior staff members may not have regularly scheduled supervisory sessions with Management
Team except to resolve problem areas, or as requested by the clinician for consultation.
Regular team staffing of cases will be conducted to facilitate communication and continuity of
care.
Continuing Education requirements to meet and retain licensure are expected to include seminars
and workshops, which deal with child / youth and family issues. Verification of attendance is
made a part of the employee's personnel file.
All staff of Children's Outpatient services must be knowledgeable about and able to follow
through with the State Reporting Law requiring any suspected abuse or neglect of children to be
reported to Child Welfare Services of DHS of the county in which the suspected abuse or neglect
occurred.
Referrals & Intakes
All requests for Children / Youth services are routed through the screening and referral person.
Referrals may be made directly to the System of Care program. That program's personnel then
works with the screening and referral person when deemed necessary.
Basic information is obtained to determine the suitability of the request for services. If
appropriate, the intake process is scheduled and completed. If services are deemed inappropriate,
a referral will be made to an appropriated agency or practitioner.
The parent requesting services for a child must be determined to have custody or be the legal
guardian. If a non-custody parent / relative requests services for a child, that person is advised to
have the legal custodian come to the clinic and sign a consent for treatment. The child is not seen
until this is completed.
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Children in the custody of a state agency may be seen on the signature of an authorized worker
from that agency.
All mental health consumers being served by a licensed mental health professional shall be
informed by the LMHP or by Edwin Fair Community Mental Health Center that the consumer
has the right to designate a family member or other concerned individual as a treatment advocate.
Edwin Fair CMHC, Inc. has policies and procedures ensuring this provision. The consumer shall
not be coerced, directly or indirectly, into naming or not naming a Treatment Advocate or choice
of Treatment Advocate or level of involvement of the Treatment Advocate. Any individual so
designated shall at all times act in the best interests of the consumer and comply with all
conditions of confidentiality. No limitation may be imposed on a consumer's right to
communicate by phone, mail or visitation with his or her Treatment Advocate, except to the
extent that reasonable times and places may be established. The Treatment Advocate may
participate in the treatment planning and discharge planning of the person being served to the
extent consented to by the consumer and permitted by law. The consumer and Treatment
Advocate shall be notified of treatment and discharge planning meetings at least 24 hours in
advance.
Site of Services
Policy:
Child and Adolescent Outpatient services are provided in Kay, Payne, Osage, Pawnee and Noble
Counties.
Procedures:
KAY: Outpatient services are provided Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
PAYNE: Outpatient services are provided Monday, through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
OSAGE: Outpatient services are provided Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
NOBLE: Outpatient Services are provided Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
PAWNEE: Outpatient services are provided through the Stillwater office.
NOTE: Hours may very with respective locations.
Program Goals for Children and Adolescents
Goal #1
The programming is designed for effective individualized treatment of presenting
problems relating to diagnosis while respecting the needs and preferences as well as the
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dignity and uniqueness of each individual served.
competence.
Objective #1
The agency will ensure cultural
An assessment will be performed with each consumer prior to therapeutic intervention.
Objective #2
A comprehensive treatment plan will be developed with the consumer and/or legal
guardian. The treatment plan is directed to alleviate symptomatology, facilitate
stabilization, and prevent relapse. The plan will consider the developmental issues of
each child served and will be sensitive to the needs of special populations and culturally
sensitive.
Objective #3
There will be collaboration with family, school and other service providers as clinically
appropriate with the written consent of the legal guardian.
Objective #4
There will be follow up after treatment as requested by the consumer and/or parent or
guardian as clinically indicated and stated in the individual’s plan.
Goal #2
The programming is designed to provide community education and prevention
Objective #1
Day care: Education and prevention is provided to local day cares and head start
programs upon request. This program will assist day care providers with specific mental
health issues and behavior intervention.
Objective #2
Health fairs will be done in communities to provide education and awareness regarding
mental illness issues and resource options.
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