Family Wellness Associates provides individualized supports to children and adults that have severe mental and/or emotional health problems. These services are authorized and established by case managers for the Department of Human Services. These services are provided in the member's home and in the member's community. Services include: In-Home Family Therapy, Family and Community Supports (FCS), Respite, Group Respite, and Skill Community Living (SCL). Services are covered by Medicaid and member are to apply through DHS.
Respite Respite care services are services provided to the member that gives temporary relief to the usual caregiver and provides all the necessary care that the usual caregiver would provide during that time period. The purpose of respite care is to enable the member to remain in the member’s current living situation.
Group respite means respite provided on a staff-to-member ratio of less than one- to-one.
Individual respite means respite provided on a staff-to-member ratio of one- to-one or higher for members without specialized medical needs that would require care by a licensed registered nurse or licensed practical nurse. Respite may be provided in:
The member’s home,
Another family’s home,
Camps,
Organized community programs (YMCA, recreation centers, senior citizens’ centers, etc.),
Foster group care
Foster family home
DHS licensed daycare.
Services shall not be reimbursable if the living unit is otherwise reserved for persons on a temporary leave of absence. Respite cannot be provided to members residing in the family, guardian, or usual caregiver’s home during the hours in which the usual caregiver is employed unless the member is attending a 24-hour residential camp program.
Supported Community Living (SCL) SCL provides up to 24 hours of support per day based on the member’s needs. This service is designed to assist the member with daily living needs. Assistance may include, but is not limited to:
Personal and home skills,
Community skills,
Personal needs,
Transportation,
Treatment services.
Members can receive SCL in the family home, the guardian’s home or integrated community settings. All living arrangements must be integrated into the community.
The following items are not included:
Room and board costs
Academics
Medical services
Vocational services
Daycare
Case management
Babysitting
Parenting
Family and Community Support (FCS) This service shall be provided under the recommendation and direction of the mental health professionals that are included in the child’s interdisciplinary team. This service shall support the child and family by helping them with the development and implementation of strategies and interventions that will result in the reduction of stress and depression, and will increase the child’s and family’s social and emotional strength. Depending on the needs of the child and family members (individually or collectively), family and community support services may be provided to the child, to the child’s family members, or to the child and family members as a family unit. This service shall incorporate recommended support interventions and activities that may include the following:
Developing and maintaining a crisis support network for the member and for the member’s family.
Modeling and coaching effective coping strategies for the member’s family members
Case management
Building resilience to the stigma of serious emotional disturbance for the member and the family.
Reducing the stigma of serious emotional disturbance by the development of relationships with peers and community members.
Modeling and coaching the strategies and interventions identified in the member’s crisis intervention plan for life situations with the member’s family and in the community.
Developing personal hygiene and grooming skills that contributes to the member’s positive self-image.