Northwestern Human Services: Children's Services

Autism Services
Program Locations: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Centre, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Indiana, Lancaster, Lebanon, Westmoreland, York

A team of clinicians including a psychologist, behavior specialist and case manager, work with the family of a child with autism to determine the most appropriate treatment. Services are designed to offer a range of treatment options that may be provided in the home, at school, or in a day care setting.

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders bring with them the special challenges of living in a world that is not always built to accommodate their unique needs. For more than 10 years, NHS Human Services has been providing quality behavioral health services to the children and families of Pennsylvania who are affected by Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder (NOS) and Aspergers Syndrome. As the rate of prevalence and demand for services have increased, we have dedicated ourselves to improving our expertise and expanding the range of services NHS can provide because the challenges of Autism should never include the availability of quality services.

Our latest addition to the NHS service line-up is the NHS Autism Schools. In order to make this idea come to life, NHS invested the best of its existing Autism Services into the framework of an educational setting. We knew that blending our expertise with a comprehensive educational program would result in a stable, nurturing environment that would instill young people with the confidence and skills to reach their fullest potential.

Click on the banner below to purchase Autism publications. A percentage of your purchase will be donated to the NHS Foundation. Thank you for your support.

For more information on our autism services, please e-mail us at autismservices@nhsonline.org.

Providing family counseling and support where there has been a case of neglect, these services are coordinated with the county children and youth and juvenile probation offices. Prior to services, a clinical analysis is completed, followed by an individualized family service plan that outlines the family's goals and ways to achieve success.

Day Treatment/Alternative School
Program Locations: Blair, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon

This program is school-based and provides a range of support services to adolescents (12-18 years) who are at immediate risk for out-of-home, school, or community placements and who have had involvement with the Juvenile Justice or Children and Youth systems. The program frequently serves as a traditional "step-down" alternative for adolescents who are returning from out-of-home or community placements.

Early Intervention Program
Program Location: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bucks, Butler, Chester, Crawford, Indiana, Juniata, Mifflin, Philadelphia

The Early Intervention Program is designed to provide services to children ages 3-5, with a variety of developmental needs. The program provides high quality early childhood education and supports to promote the growth and independence of children and their families. Children who are eligible for Early Intervention services are referred to our program by both Elwyn's Philadelphia Preschool Early Intervention Agency and the School District of Philadelphia Preschool Programs. Services can be provided in either a center or a community setting, based upon the child's individual needs. Specialized services are available in: Special Education, Speech/Language Therapy, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy. Additional services, including but not limited to vision and hearing therapy will be arranged through other local provider agencies as needed.

Services are provided to eligible children in a variety of settings, including local daycare/childcare centers, Head Starts, Comprehensive Early Learning Centers and Parent-Cooperative Nursery Schools. Trained therapists and educators work with the child both individually and in a group setting. The focus of the program is to provide supports to the children, their teachers and their families, in the regular preschool program.

For children who need more intensive services, the center program offers an atmosphere in which children can focus their attention while working with specially trained staff to increase their skills. The center provides a low child-to-adult ratio to assist in meeting individual needs as expressed in their Individualized Education Plan.

In-home family and individual therapy is provided by a two-person team on a 24-hour, seven day a week basis to at-risk children or adolescents and their families. The goal is to prevent psychiatric hospitalization and out-of-home placement and to link the family with ongoing services to prevent future crisis situations.

This program provides services to children in their own homes who are referred directly by the county Human Services Department. Children who are at risk of physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect due to inappropriate or inadequate care in the home are provided a diagnostic assessment which includes a psychosocial interview with family members in their own home in the presence of the county social worker.

Intensive Case Management
Program Location: Bucks, Carbon, Juniata, Mifflin, Monroe, Northumberland, Philadelphia, Pike

Comprehensive needs assessment is provided for children and adolescents under the age of 21, who are returning from psychiatric hospitalization or out-of-home placement. Small caseloads insure frequent contacts with 24-hour, seven day a week on-call availability for consumers and their families. This program assures continuity of care via interagency service planning and in-home and community support.

This program provides support, education and advocacy to parents of emotionally disturbed children and adolescents through individual contacts as well as groups and workshops. It concentrates on creating a continuum of care for children who may receive services from different government agencies.

For children and families who are experiencing emotional, social and/or behavioral difficulties, these clinics provide a comprehensive program of assessment, referral, psychiatric and psychotherapy services. Treatment may include individual, family or group therapies, with a major emphasis on short-term solution focused therapy.

This service provides intensive, supportive treatment to children who have a primary acute psychiatric disorder, as an alternative to hospitalization. Services include therapy, medication monitoring, and counseling, Monday through Friday.

Residential Treatment Facility (RTF)
Program Locations: Armstrong, Carbon, Clearfield, Franklin, Fulton, Indiana, Jefferson, Montgomery, Monroe, Philadelphia, Pike

Youth under the age of 21 who have severe emotional and behavioral difficulties which lead to disruptions in the community and in their homes are the individuals served in residential treatment facilities. Offering intensive mental health treatment in a highly structured environment, the goal of the RTF is to eventually return youth to their families or to help them live independently in the community.

Student Assistance Program (SAP)
Program Locations: Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia

An intervention program that functions within the school districts, SAP is designed to work with school personnel to identify, evaluate, and refer students at-risk to appropriate drug and alcohol or mental health treatment services.

Therapeutic Family Care (TFC) and Foster Care Plus (FCP) provide children who have serious emotional and behavioral health challenges with the opportunity to receive essential services in the context of family life. Children live with families who receive extensive training and support to create a therapeutic environment that incorporates treatment strategies within the normal rhythms and routines of family and community life. As an alternative to hospitals and other forms of residential treatment, the TFC and FCP families provide each child with a stable emotional environment, normal routines and most importantly, caring relationships within which a child can recover, grow and transition successfully to their own families and communities.

TFC accepts children with the most severe diagnosis; while FCP is able to accept children with somewhat less serious life challenges. Both TFC and FCP children require high levels of intense supervision and treatment.

The legal families of children referred to TFC and FCP are included as vital partners in the treatment process. Assisting children and their families to reconnect in the most positive possible manner is fundamental to TFC/FCP service design and operation.

Child referrals are accepted from the Mental Health and Mental Retardation (OMHR), Children, Youth and Families (CYF) and Juvenile Probation Offices (JPO). NHS continuously works to identify mature, compassionate, and flexible people who enjoy being with and helping young people to reach their full potential. Family treatment team members already affiliated with our service are valued members of the treatment who receive regular opportunities to further improve their treatment skills. Extensive training, 24 hour a day, seven days a week staff support, and generous monetary compensation all contribute to make being a TFC/FCP parent a rewarding life style.

Individuals who feel they would like to become a member of a dynamic TFC/FCP treatment team may wish to obtain more information on serving as a TFC/FCP parent. Interested parties should contact the NHS agency listed above that is closest to your place of residence. Information may also be obtained by contacting JoAnne S. Roeske, M.A., Regional TFC/FCP and Permanency Director at (717) 441-9537, or Jackie Piermattei, Regional Director for TFC/FCP services at (570) 286-4380, Ext. 26.

Wrap-Around Enhanced Mental Health Treatment — (EPSDT: Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment Services)
Program Locations: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Clinton, Crawford, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Lycoming, Mifflin, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Northumberland, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, Somerset, Westmoreland, York

This program provides individualized community-based counseling services which address the overall needs of the child including educational, developmental, and emotional. Services are provided in the home, school, or community and must be deemed medically necessary by a physician.