CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

VBH offers individual counseling, also known as outpatient therapy, for children and youth. Counseling addresses mental health and co-occurring disorders, as well as family counseling. Experienced counselors at VBH used evidence-based tools to assist clients with managing behavioral health concerns. Counselors work individually with clients and families to build a treatment plan and identify tools to help clients tackle issues and restore them to their best selves. Outpatient counseling is available at all VBH locations and via phone appointments. Counseling is typically available to clients five years and over, except for specific circumstances which may require intervention.

Care Management services for children and youth provide the entire family with support, linkage, referral, and advocacy. Care Management is a family-centered, strengths-based model specifically for families with children who are seriously emotionally disturbed. The Care Manager’s role is to assist the family in accessing services, managing crises, and maintaining the least restrictive environment for the child or adolescent served. Care managers monitor and encourage client progress by regularly assessing the integrated treatment plan and reducing social barriers. VBH has a dedicated team of care managers ready to meet clients with no appointments necessary. Children and youth on Tenncare and Behavioral Safety Net may qualify for care management services.

Telehealth is an innovative way to ensure easy access to providers for both adults and children. It is a secure way for our clients to directly connect to physicians and medical staff within our system from all locations within Volunteer’s 12,555 square miles of coverage area. Telehealth connects clients with reputable medical and mental health professionals through secure phone or video sessions for professional and convenient services. The telehealth program also allows the providers to consult with one another to provide children and families with the best, most comprehensive care.

VBH offers evaluation services for children and youth. Specific services include psychological evaluations, parenting assessments, alcohol and drug (A&D) assessments, and forensic evaluations. We also provide consultation and evaluation services for local school systems and work with families to ensure appropriate mental health evaluations are conducted. Please see individual locations for the availability of these services.

Local juvenile court systems often look for VBH clinical staff to provide evaluation services for children and youth involved in the court system. We provide psychological evaluations, competency evaluations, and mental status and substance use assessments. Clinical staff who specialize in forensic evaluations work closely with the court systems in the area in providing these services. They assist judges and court officers with determining the proper care for the children and youth under their jurisdiction. Court-ordered evaluations are available in each county served by VBH.

Grundy Safe Communities Coalition’s mission is to unite together to establish a safe, caring, drug-free community that supports youth and families. The program serves youth 18 and under. It focuses on reducing the underage drinking rate, the rates of tobacco use among youth, and the nonmedical prescription drug abuse rate in the Grundy County area. This project is funded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS).

The Juvenile Justice Reform program provides in-home and community-based services to youth in the juvenile justice system. JJR prioritizes family and youth voices using a modified, wraparound team model to empower families. There is no “one size fits all” approach. VBH provides family, peer, education, and other types of support as needed. We work alongside families for six to nine months to accomplish longstanding change. The program is free for youth and their families who are involved in the justice system in 22 counties, including Macon, Clay, Pickett, Jackson, Overton, Fentress, Smith, Dekalb, Putnam, White, Cumberland, Warren, Van Buren, Grundy, Sequatchie, Bledsoe, Rhea, Meigs, McMinn, Bradley, Polk, and Marion. The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) funds this project.

• Macon
• Clay
• Pickett
• Jackson
• Overton
• Fentress
• Smith
• DeKalb
• Putnam
• White
• Cumberland
• Warren
• Van Buren
• Grundy
• Sequatchie
• Bledsoe
• Rhea
• Meigs
• McMinn
• Bradley
• Polk
• Marion

SOCAT aims for families with children, youth, and young adults with behavioral health needs to access community-based services. It provides intensive support for youth and young adults (up to age 21) with a behavioral health diagnosis and at risk of removal from the home. SOCAT participants may also have functional impairments that require the involvement of multiple systems. This program increases access to community-based services by coordinating across systems of care individualized to a family’s unique needs, strengths, and culture. SOCAT recognizes families as the primary decision-makers in the care of their children. Referrals to SOCAT are made through the program’s website: socacrosstn.org. Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) funds this program in partnership with the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth (TCCY).

Available in the following counties:

• Fentress
• Jackson
• Monroe
• Hamilton
• Grundy
• Meigs
• Putnam

RIP is a nationally-recognized model designed for families with children under six years of age experiencing behavior problems. RIP is a parent-implemented, professionally supported program providing parents with opportunities to learn and practice skills in a supportive environment. Children participate in RIP classrooms during program time. VBH also houses the Regional Intervention Program State Coordinator. The position provides training, consultation, and programmatic guidance to RIP programs throughout the state. VBH’s Cleveland and Smyrna campuses offer RIP. Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) funds this program, and services are free for clients.

• Cleveland
• Smyrna

Project AFFIRM is a planned respite program for families with children between the ages of two and 15 who have Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED). The program supports families with break time and behavioral management skills development for the children. It provides short-term relief and teaches parents an empowerment model to access community support for longer-term respite care. Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) funds Project AFFIRM, and services are free for clients. Project AFFIRM is available at VBH’s Smyrna campus.

• Smyrna

School-based behavioral health liaisons provide mental health counseling services for children and youth in a school setting. Individual therapy, family consultation, and school staff consultation are provided for targeted children and youth within a specific school location. This program is funded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS).

Project BASIC is an award-winning, school-based mental health early intervention and prevention program. This grant-funded program provides Child Development Specialists in elementary schools. The program targets students from kindergarten to third grade, providing early identification and intervention, teacher consultation, and classroom programming to promote positive attitudes and mental health wellness concepts. Families with students at high risk of emotional disturbances are linked to community and treatment services. This program is available in certain school districts throughout the 32 counties VBH serves. Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) funds this program.

Positive Action is an evidence-based substance abuse prevention program that addresses social, behavioral, and academic performance and core risk factors related to self-esteem, self-efficacy, and overall risk-related behaviors of children and youth. The program seeks to raise the awareness of those youth at risk of the realities of drug use and misuse. It also teaches positive coping skills and resiliency so that they may deal with life’s problems healthily and appropriately. The program is provided in schools, community settings, and court-based groups. Prevention Specialists hold offices in our local mental health centers but visit the community sites to conduct programming. Positive Action serves ages nine (4th grade) to 18 in Bradley, Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Van Buren, Warren, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Putnam, Trousdale, White, and Wilson counties. Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) funds the Positive Action prevention program, and services are free to participants.

Children’s BHSN provides outpatient mental health services to Tennesseans aged three to 17 without insurance coverage or full behavioral health coverage and is offered at all VBH locations.