Crisis Services - Children & Adolescents: Services

Telephone Assessment & Consultation: Through a telephone conversation Children’s Specialists will listen to your needs and be available to assess for the most appropriate level of service for the child and family.
Mobile Outreach Visit: A Team of two Children’s Specialists will travel to the child’s home or school to provide face to face services. During the initial assessment the following may occur:

Crisis Intervention
Lethality Assessmen
Behavioral Assessment
Mental Status Exam
Parent / Child Education
Family Specific Safety Planning Assessment for Respite Services
9.45 Evaluation:

While the goal of the MCRT is to stabilize the crisis and divert the child from an unnecessary presentation in a psychiatric emergency room, sometimes this is not possible. In order to prevent an individual from harming oneself or others, an involuntary transport to a psychiatric hospital is sometimes necessary. Staff is responsible for assessing whether an individual meets the criteria under Section 9.45 of the New York State Mental Hygiene Law. If this is the case, the individual is transported to Erie County Medical Center for further evaluation by a psychiatrist who determines need for psychiatric admission.

Respite Services: Crisis Services is working collaboratively with New Directions to provide 24-hour crisis respite services. Respite services can only be put in place after the Children’s Specialist have completed a face to face visit.
Community Linkages: Based on assessments, home visits, the cultural discovery process and CAFAS, the MCRT staff will link children and families with on-going services within the community. These services will assist the child and family in maintaining a healthy and safe environment.
Short Term Care Coordination: Through Crisis Services collaboration with New Directions, short-term care coordination will be provided. These Care Coordinators will provide home and school based behavioral intervention services, working with the Family Voices Network vendors and other community providers in order to address the child and family’s needs.
Mobile Outreach Visit Follow Up: A more thorough engagement of the family will occur with a Children’s Specialist and a Care Coordinator, focusing on family strengths and appropriate linkages to resources.