Family-Based Mental Health Services (FBMHS)

Family-based mental health services (FBMHS) are voluntary mental health services for children and teenagers who have a serious emotional or behavioral disorder, and their families.

FBMHS help children who may need psychiatric hospital services or other out-of-home services. FBMHS can provide crisis intervention at any time of the day or night to decrease the possibility of your child needing to leave home due to a crisis.

FBMHS may be appropriate if your child:

  • Has serious emotional and/or behavioral difficulties
  • Is at risk of needing treatment in a psychiatric hospital, a residential treatment facility (RTF), or another type of out-of-home setting
  • Needs an intense mental health service. At a minimum, outpatient therapy has been tried and has not been enough to help your child

How to get FBMHS

  • At least one adult family member or caregiver must be willing to participate in your child’s treatment.
  • A psychiatrist or psychologist must recommend the services for your child.

How can the FBMHS team help your child and family if you have a crisis?
At the beginning of treatment, your FBMHS team will work with you and your family to make a crisis plan. If the crisis plan does not work as planned, you should call your FBMHS provider directly for help. Your FBMHS team is available to you when you have a crisis, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The goal of the FBMHS team is to help you keep your family strong and together by:

  • Improving communication and stress management skills
  • Teaching you and your family problem-solving skills
  • Improving coping skills
  • Teaching parenting and behavior management skills
  • Advocating for your child in the school and community
  • Helping your family obtain other needed services

Things to know about FBMHS:

  • FBMHS are only for families that want the service.
  • FBMHS include individual and family therapy, case management, crisis intervention, and family support as needed.
  • FBMHS are provided by a team of 2 mental health workers.
  • The family and the treatment team establish treatment goals.
  • Families must be seen at least once a week by the treatment team or more often if needed.
  • FBMHS are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even on holidays, for scheduled appointments and crisis intervention.

Call us if you have questions or need to find help for your child or teenager.