DSCYF - OPERATIONS INFORMATION, CMHS

Services for Children, Youth and Their Families: Child Mental Health Services

Operations Information, CMHS

We are a JCAHO-accredited public sector system providing managed behavioral health care for Medicaid and non-Medicaid children with mental/emotional and/or substance abuse issues without benefit limits.

Our Mission

To provide accessible, effective treatment for children, through collaboration with families and service partners.

Our Vision

Children and Their Families — Reaching Their Fullest Potential

Administration

The Division of Child Mental Health Services (DCMHS) provides all public children's behavioral health care (mental health and substance abuse treatment) to Delaware children who are Medicaid eligible or without insurance. DCMHS is a JCAHO-accredited managed behavioral health care organization which provides services through a state-wide network of public and private providers. Clinical Services Management Teams manage the care of each child in the DCMHS system by planning, authorizing, monitoring and coordinating care.

Under Delaware’s 1115 Medicaid Managed Care Waiver, the Medicaid Office established a public-private partnership for children's behavioral health care. For Medicaid children, DCMHS manages the interface with private managed care organizations which are contracted with Medicaid to provide a basic benefit package of 30 hours of outpatient mental health and/or substance abuse services. DCMHS serves Medicaid children who require services which are more intensive than can be provided through 30 hours of out patient services.

Clinical Services Management

Delaware’s Clinical Services Management Model is unique (see Clinical Team Model). Seven Clinincal Services Management teams, each led by a licensed behavioral health professional, manage the mental health and/or substance abuse treatment services of DCHMS clients. They:

Plan treatment and discharge with input from clients, family and providers
Authorize clinically necessary services
Monitor and evaluate progress in treatment (reauthorizing as necessary) and
Coordinate behavioral health services provision, working with the client/family to facilitate service entry, transitions and discharge.

Piloted in FY89 and fully implemented in FY90, the Delaware Clinical Management Model works.

Questions regarding DCMHS Clinical Services Management may be directed to Harvey Doppelt, Ph.D., Clinical Services Management, DCMHS/DSCYF at (302) 633-2595. For further information or questions e-mail cmh.dscyf@state.de.us.

Clinical Team Model(PDF Format, 1p, 136kb)

Eligibility Policy

Eligibility Summary

DCMHS will serve any child under 18 who is in Delaware when requiring emergency mental health services independent of need.
As part of Departmental consolidated contracts, outpatient services are available to youth open in DFS or DYRS up to their 19th birthday.
Children not meeting the above criteria will only be eligible for DCMHS reimbursed services if they meet all criteria below:
- are Delaware residents
- are less than 18 years old
- have no insurance, have exhausted insurance, have medicaid in addition to commercial insurance , or have exhausted the MCO benefit or cannot be adequately served at the outpatient level of care.
- meet clinical criteria
DCMHS does not provide day treatment or partial hospitalization services as an alternative to a public education program.
DCMHS does not provide services to youth active with DFS or DYRS where comparable services are available in the Division currently serving the youth.
DCMHS is always the last payer when there is commercial insurance and medicaid.
DCMHS Consultation and Assessment services are available to any youth referred by Department staff.

Revised 7-27-97

Intake and Assessment

The DCMHS Intake and Assessment Unit has four key functions:

routine intake
crisis calls in north Delaware (during business hours)
eligibility determination for DCMHS
consultation and assessment upon request for DCMHS Clinical Services Management and for the Division of Family Services, the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services, and the Courts.

Questions regarding DCMHS Intake may be directed to Randal Wimberley, Ph.D., Director, Intake and Assessment, DCMHS/DSCYF via e-mail or by phone (302) 633-2579.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Criteria

DCMHS evaluates each child individually and authorizes levels of care based upon specific criteria. Click one of the following services categories to view the criteria used by DCMHS Care Assurance Teams to authorize mental health and substance abuse care:

Alcohol and Other Drug Services Criteria (Revised 2003, PDF Format, 6p, 64kb)
Criteria for Clinical Case Management Only (Revised 2003, PDF Format, 1p, 12kb)
Mental Health Services Criteria (Revised 2003, PDF Format, 11p, 101kb)

Last Updated: Thursday, 22-Mar-2007 14:42:42 EDT