The Medicaid and MI Child Autism Benefit provides intensive programming for children 18 months through 5 years of age with the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Children meeting the following criteria may be eligible for the benefit through TBHS:

∼ Enrolled in Medicaid and MIChild only.

∼ Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis;

∼ Age 18 months through 21 years; and

∼ Tuscola County Resident.

Children and Adults who are uninsured or those with commercial insurance benefits are not eligible through TBHS.

Autism Fact Sheet

Autism brochure

Family Support Tool Kits

Children's Services work with children and the family unit. Services are primarily provided in the family home or community and vary in intensity, application, and duration depending on the needs of the child and the family. Children's Services are designed through a planning process that mandates the active participation of the family in the child's treatment process.

Program Goals...

• Promote normal development;

• Promote healthy family functioning;

• Support and preserve families;

• Reunite families who may have been separated;

• Reduce the usage of, or shorten the length of stay in the hospital or residential setting.

• Services Provided...

• Children's Services are designed to provide intensive services to children and their families within their home and community, including:

• Case Management Services

• Child and Family Therapy

• Child and Family Skill Building

• Crisis Intervention

• Group Therapy

• Parenting Education

• Psychiatric Services

• Respite Services

Children's Services staff is committed to helping families access community resources and to advocate on behalf of families. Credentialed staff work closely with community agencies to assure appropriate interventions and courses of treatment are planned for each child and family.

Community Bound Volunteer Program is provided through the Personal Independence Center for individuals with developmental disabilities. As part of their efforts to be active, participating members of the community, the individuals volunteer their time in support of community activities and non-profit organizations throughout the county.

The intent is to integrate individuals into their community through volunteer situations, as well as, utilizing the community resources for skill building and knowledge base. TBHS staff members will be with participants while they get acquainted to the project.

Outcomes...

• To become more independent, and correspondingly, more included in their community.

• Skill development in real situations.

• To work as respected individuals alongside others in the community. Increased community awareness of disabilities to erase the stigma associated with a disability.

• Develop natural resources - new friends, new experiences.

• Create a possible link to employment opportunities.

• Continued development in interpersonal and socialization skills.

• Develop good work habits.

• Develop an understanding of helping other within the community.

Community Bound Volunteers...

The Community Bound Volunteers are to assist with projects/events and not to replace a paid position or interfere with paid labor force. The work materials are supplied by the community organization/agency requesting assistance

OBRA (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation ACT of 1987) provides pre-screenings to individuals seeking admission to a Medicaid Certified Nursing Home. This is to ensure individuals with a mental illness and/or developmental/intellectual disability receive appropriate care for both their medical and mental health needs in the least restrictive setting. This includes determining medical necessity for residing in a skilled nursing facility and if there is a need for specialized mental health services. Individuals who remain long-term in a skilled nursing facility are assessed yearly or as needed due to reported changes in condition. If it is determined that an individual no longer requires skilled nursing facility care or medical supervision, Community Mental Health will assist in coordination between the skilled nursing facility, individual, individual’s supports/guardian, and community providers in order to obtain needed treatment outside of the skilled nursing facility environment in compliance with MDHHS determinations.

Often behavioral and emotional concerns can complicate our daily responsibilities, creating additional problems that may, in time, take over one’s life if help is not received. The impact of trauma is another factor that can affect one’s relationships, and reduce one’s ability to cope with stress. This can further challenge overall mental health. The goal of Outpatient Therapy is to focus on solutions and works to help individuals improve their emotional, mental, and social functioning as part of their recovery journey. Services can be provided on a one-to-one basis, with natural supports or family, or in a group setting. The service array is determined by the individual’s expressed wants, needs, and desires, combined with professional clinical guidance.

Professional and confidential services are provided to people of all ages offering affordable, comprehensive, and easily accessible behavioral health care.

Eligibility for Outpatient Therapy is determined by clinical assessment and other standardized assessment tools to establish medical necessity. Length of services will vary in duration based on individual needs. Typical counseling sessions last 45 to 60 minutes. TBHS provides a variety of treatment programs with flexible hours and scheduled that work around your lifestyle needs. Evening appointments are available Tuesday through Thursday.

Psychiatric evaluations include a comprehensive, face-to-face evaluation by a psychiatrist for adults with severe and persistent mental illness and children with severe emotional disturbances. The focus of the evaluation is to determine the mental status, including the presenting problem, history of illness or previous psychiatric history, and medication history to provide a comprehensive assessment to help formulate a person-centered plan in the overall care.

Medication Reviews are provided by the psychiatrist and is aimed at providing face-to-face contact and ongoing monitoring regarding the implementation and effectiveness of medication treatment.

Skill Building assistance includes training and supports services to help individuals actively participate at school, work, volunteer opportunities, community settings, or to learn social skills they may need to support themselves or to get around in the community. Skill building is provided at the PIC building and at a number of volunteer sites and senior meal sites.

Skill building assistance is for individuals who are developmentally disabled, with the goal of promoting personal independence in their daily lives.

New Directions is the Supported Employment Program through Tuscola Behavioral Health Systems. Supported/Integrated Employment Services provide initial and ongoing support services and training. Employment Training Specialists provide support at the job sites to help adults who are eligible for mental health services find and keep paid employment in the community.

A Supports Coordinator is a staff person who helps write an individual plan of service and makes sure the services are delivered. His or her role is to listen to a person's goals, and to help find the services and providers inside and outside the local community mental health services program that will help achieve the goals. A supports coordinator may also connect a person to resources in the community for employment, community living, education, public benefits, and recreational activities.

Targeted Case Management is a collaborative process of assessment, planning, facilitation and advocacy for options and services to meet a person’s recovery needs. The case manager coordinates services and helps oversee the Person Centered Plan. Staff will link individuals to needed services and monitor the results. Targeted Case Management is intended for people who require a number of mental health services and who have difficulty accessing or sustaining services on their own.

Targeted Case Management is a practice in which the person served is a participant, to the greatest extent, in assessing needs, obtaining services, treatments and supports, and in preventing and managing crisis.

The Family Support Subsidy (FSS) Program provides financial assistance to families that include a child with severe developmental disabilities. The intent is to help make it possible for children with developmental disabilities to remain with or return to their birth or adoptive families. The program provides a monthly payment of $300.36. Families are able to use this money for special expenses incurred while caring for their child.

Qualifications:

• Child must be younger than 18 years of age and live in the family home in Michigan.

• The family's most recently filed Michigan income tax form must show a taxable income of $60,000 or less.

• The Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team of the local public or intermediate school district must recommend the child for an educational eligibility category of severe cognitive impairment, severe multiple impairment or autism spectrum disorder.

• Children with autism spectrum disorder must be receiving special education services in a program for students with autism spectrum disorder or in a program for students with severe cognitive impairment or severe multiple impairments.

Applications are available at all county community mental health services programs (CMHSPs).

Program provides financial assistance to families that include a child with severe developmental disabilities. The intent is to help make it possible for children with developmental disabilities to remain with or return to their birth or adoptive families. The program provides a monthly payment of $300.36. Families are able to use this money for special expenses incurred while caring for their child.

Qualifications:

• Child must be younger than 18 years of age and live in the family home in Michigan.

• The family's most recently filed Michigan income tax form must show a taxable income of $60,000 or less.

• The Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team of the local public or intermediate school district must recommend the child for an educational eligibility category of severe cognitive impairment, severe multiple impairment or autism spectrum disorder.

• Children with autism spectrum disorder must be receiving special education services in a program for students with autism spectrum disorder or in a program for students with severe cognitive impairment or severe multiple impairments.

Applications are available at all county community mental health services programs (CMHSPs).

Click to read PDF below.
Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment (IDDT)

Are consumers of mental health services who have been diagnosed with a mental illness for at least one year and are willing to share their illness and recovery stories with other Consumers. The goals of Peer Support Specialist include helping individuals become more involved in the mental health system and their community and to become more independent and productive. Simply put, Peer Support Specialists assist others on their path to recovery. Their unique experiences and skills can help many individuals achieve their personal goals while assisting them in navigating the human services system.

Peer Support Specialists are trained and certified through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to provide services according to the Medicaid State Plan.

Specialized Residential Services are for adults with a mental illness and/or a developmental disabilities that meet eligibility criteria. Residential settings provide a warm, homelike atmosphere, and are located in Tuscola County. The goal of the specialized residential program is to improve the quality of life of the residents by creating a supportive environment that fosters personal growth, dignity and the achievement of a more independent living status. Each consumer has an individually designed service plan based on his/her unique needs, abilities, and desires. By placing positive emphasis on personal responsibility, we hope to broaden the scope of life choices for residents and their ability to make decisions that are essential to becoming full citizens of their communities. Services/interventions are implemented to support the recovery or stabilization of the person served, reduce symptoms, restore function and prevent additional functional impairment.

Residential homes are staffed with training and qualified program support staff 24 hours per day. A program supervisor who is responsible for managing the home and implementing services supervises the staff.

Respite is a type of support available to families of individuals with developmental disabilities or children with serious emotional disturbance. The word respite means "break" or "relief". Respite care services are designed to offer families the opportunity to take a break from care giving responsibilities.

A respite break can mean an hour to take a walk while the trained respite provider cares for your child or young adult. It is a time for family to engage in activities, run errands, attend meetings, and take part in community events for a period of time. Respite is provided on an intermittent basis to provide the family with a short term break from caring for their loved one with a disability.

Respite Sitter Requirements...

• 18 years of age.

• Criminal background check.

• Sitter will be interviewed and selected by the individual's family.

• Parents determine the hourly fee.

• Family will provide training specific to the needs of their loved one.

Self-Directed Services incorporates a set of concepts and values that underscore a core belief that individuals who require support through the public mental health system must have the freedom to define the life they seek, and obtain assistance to achieve that life. Individuals need to have access to meaningful choices, and to be assured of control over the course of their lives.

The Four Principles of Self-Directed Services Freedom: The ability for an individual with chosen family and/or friends to plan a life with necessary supports.

Authority: The ability for an individual to control a certain sum of dollars in order to purchase support services, with help of a social network or circle of friends and family members, if needed.

Support: The arranging of resources and personnel, to assist an individual to live a life rich in community associations and contributions.

Responsibility: The acceptance of a valued role in the community through employment, community connections, as well as, accountability for spending public dollars in ways that makes a person’s life better.

For more information on Self-Directed Services at Tuscola Behavioral Health Systems, contact the Self-Directed Services Coordinator at 989-673-6191.

Click here to download the Self-Directed Services Brochure.

Tuscola Behavioral Health Systems is excited to offer state of the art telemedicine services to individuals as part of our commitment to quality services.

Telemedicine will provide individuals with an easy way of interacting with a psychiatrist in real-time just as if the psychiatrist was sitting next to them. Individuals will have the opportunity of seeing, hearing, and speaking with the psychiatrist and discussing their plan of care through video conferencing (television monitor). Telemedicine is the use of audio and video telecommunication systems to link individuals with psychiatric services from another location to TBHS.

Individuals will have timely access to psychiatric services and will continue with the same doctor throughout their recovery. Appointments will be private and confidential, consistent with TBHS standards of practice. The appointment will be between the individual and the telemedicine psychiatrist only. Other individuals may attend the appointment, upon the individual's request. Upon request, a demonstration of how the equipment works can be provided to individuals who may be interested in trying

Click here for the telemedicine Brochure

What does it mean to me?

It means that I can control my services to help me reach my goals and achieve my dreams. It means that I choose the people who will help me figure out what I will need to meet my dreams and will listen to me about what I want.

Person-Centered Planning (PCP) will help me to develop a service plan for me to meet my goals so that I can become what I want to be and do what I want to do with my life.

I have a choice where my (PCP) meeting will take place and who will be invited. I also get to choose the date and time for my meeting. My meeting will be scheduled for times when people who are important to me can be there, which may include evenings and/or weekends.

At my meeting, people will talk about the things I feel are important to me. If something makes me upset or feel badly, we don’t have to talk about it at my meeting. My meeting should be with people who are important to me and can help me reach my dreams.

My person-centered service plan should include ways to help me obtain the life I want for myself, and the things I want to work on. My plan should also have ideas on how I can make new friends and become more involved in my community.

My plan should help me be more independent so that I don’t have to rely on my Supports Coordinator/Case Manager to do so many things for me. Instead, I can work toward goals for myself.

Sometimes... it might not be possible for me to get everything that I want right away. It is very important to have supports in place for me, so that my safety and health concerns are taken care of. However, my team should always be working toward helping me to achieve my goals and to become as independent as possible.

Person Centered Planning is the law!

If I am not happy about my services, I can talk with my Supports Coordinator/Case Manager or I can call the Customer Services Coordinator, at 989.673.6191.

Person Centered Planning means...

• Having choices.

• Being a part of my community.

• Establishing my goals based on what I want to do and what I am good at having friends and relationships.

• Getting the life that I want.

“Tell me, and I’ll forget. Show me, and I may remember. Involve me, and I’ll understand.”