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Dinuba Children’s Services

Mental Health, summarized

Mental health is how we think, feel and act as we cope with life. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. Like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.

Everyone feels worried, anxious, sad or stressed sometimes. But with a mental illness, these feelings do not go away and are severe enough to interfere with your daily life. It can make it hard to meet and keep friends, hold a job or enjoy your life.

Mental illnesses are common – they affect about one in five families in the U.S. It is not your fault if you have one. These disorders – depression, phobias, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and many others - are real diseases that you cannot will or wish away. Fortunately, they are often treatable. Medicines and therapy can improve the life of most people with mental illnesses. (Medlineplus)

Mission Statement

To provide public benefit through helping people develop skills, motivation and resources to

become productive members of society; healthy in body, mind and

spirit.

Dinuba Children Services(DCS)

DCS is a counseling agency which focuses on the mental health needs of children ages 0-18

DCS is a contracted service of the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency

DCS is a community-based agency which works together with families in their home, school and other agencies in the community

DCS provides services to Medi-cal and Healthy Families recipients residing in Northern Tulare County

Community Based Agency

DCS works with other community agencies Law enforcement/Probation Child Welfare Services School Districts Health clinics/Physicians Central Valley Regional Center (CVRC) Foster Family Agencies Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Courts Adult Mental Health

Populations at Risk

Mentally Ill children Untreated mental illness is the leading cause of disability and

suicide Without treatment, children’s mental health can severely

intervene in their daily life’s, at school, in their families, with the legal system and in the community

With treatment children can better become productive members of society, be healthy in body, mind and spirit

Children’s life's are at risk, if their mental health needs are not treated!

Services

Individual Therapy/Counseling Family Therapy/Counseling Medication Support Services Crisis Intervention

A crisis call is received then a Crisis worker responds (at schools, homes and in the community) to do an assessment on client

Crisis worker is there to deescalate and contract for safety If unable to contract or other circumstances compromise safety then a 5150 Hold considered

(hospitalization) Criteria to determine 5150 Hold;

Danger to self Danger to others Greatly disabled

Services Psychiatric EvaluationsTele-Psychiatric – Board Certified Child

PsychiatristLinkage Services Rehabilitation Groups

Groups include: Social Skills Anger Management Girls Self-Esteem Parenting/Support Relaxation/Stress Relief

Early Childhood Intervention

Referral Process

A referral to DCS can come from parents, schools, Probation, Child Welfare Services, self-referral, courts and from physicians

Upon initial call, an appointment is scheduled for an assessment

Upon completion of assessment, the case is assigned to a clinician

Timeframe from initial call to begin treatment is about

3-4 weeks Treatment is started!

Values at DCS

National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics Service Social justice Dignity and worth of the person Importance of human relationships Integrity Competence

In addition… Workers advocate for clients Respect clients self-determination Have commitment to clients (Legal obligations and the well being of the

client) Informed consent, Confidentiality, HIPPA

Organizational Structure of DCS

Program Director

Assistant Program Director

Team Leaders

Staff