Home and Community Based Services Help Young People Get Ahead

May 1, 2019 | Stories

The mission of the HCBS program is to provide home and community-based services to children between 5 and 21 years of age who face the likelihood of residential placement or hospitalization due to a serious emotional disturbance (SED). Our objective is to coordinate an individually tailored plan of care which is designed to meet the needs of the child and his/her family by using their strengths and building a supportive home and community-based environment. Below is a brief story from a recent client and his worker who collaboratively navigated through many of his presenting concerns.

Ari had started attending FCA’s HCBS program presenting with suicidal ideation, extreme mood swings, poor focus, impulsiveness issues, and was smoking marijuana. Working with his case manager who developed a plan for Ari and his family, along with support from outside providers, he made progress in many of these areas. Ari stopped smoking marijuana and vows to remain abstinent. This was his personal focus that he had been working towards and achieved while engaged in services. Working with his psychiatrist, he also found an effective balance of medications, which has helped him drastically reduce his mood swings, impulsiveness and improve his focus. Ari has not reported any suicidal ideation and has not been hospitalized since enrolling in HCBS. He graduated high school, which his family was ecstatic about. He currently attends college, which his family reported they never thought he would be able to do. Even with all that has been gained, Ari continues to work with his providers to improve himself each and every day.

At FCA we respect all who come to us for help – and many are working toward a fresh start in life. So while their stories are true, client names and images may have been changed to protect their privacy. FCA thanks you for understanding.

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