Youth and Family Services

We believe that families and youth are equal partners in identifying and developing treatment goals. The needs, strengths, beliefs, and culture of families and youth determine what services are provided. Specifically, we believe in providing services that are:

• Community-based
• Culturally and linguistically responsive
• Family-driven
• Trauma-informed
• Youth-guided

Goals

The goal of Youth and Family Services is to strengthen the functioning of families by assisting a child or adolescent with severe emotional problems. Programming is intended to be intensive, short-term, and inclusive of family members and appropriate community providers.

Screening, Assessment and Support Services (SASS)

SASS provides services for children and adolescents who may be in crisis and in need of inpatient hospitalization or intensive community-based services.

Program eligibility is determined by CARES 800-345-9049. Community-based services to aid in stabilization and linkage to appropriate outpatient services post-crisis are provided.

For more information view our SASS Brochure (PDF) or visit the SASS page. En Español (PDF). 

Outpatient

• Intake Criteria:
  • Primary needs are behavioral health-related.
  • Youth has been involved in hospital-based psychiatric treatment or juvenile detention in the past six months.
• Insurance accepted: Medicaid and Medicaid Managed Care.

Services

Some of the services available include:

• Assistance with Family Support Program (FSP) application
• A comprehensive assessment of needs and strengths
• Consultation to schools and other youth-serving organizations
• Crisis intervention
• Family, group and/or individual counseling
• An individualized, person-centered treatment plan
• Linkage to community resources
• Parent education and support
• Psychiatric evaluation and medication management by a child psychiatrist or Advanced Practice Nurse for children and adolescents who are participating in counseling
• Service coordination with other agencies/facilities serving youth
• Services for the mentally ill/substance abusing individual

Pathways to Success

Pathways to Success is a program for Medicaid enrolled youth under the age of 21 in Illinois who have complex behavioral health needs and require intensive home-based and community-based services.   The services available through the Pathways to Success program are intended to supplement the youth’s existing services and build upon the unique needs and strengths of the youth and their family.  

DuPage County Health Department serves as the Care Coordination and Support Organization (CCSO) for Pathways-enrolled youth who reside in DuPage County.  CCSO staff collaborate with youth, their families, and other service providers to develop an individualized plan of care and connect youth and their families to supports in the community to meet their behavioral health goals.