Family-Based Autism Mental Health Services offer a nontraditional, community-based approach that works with the strengths and resources of families in their homes and neighborhoods. This treatment is for families caring for children and adolescents with emotional problems, behavioral problems, and autism spectrum disorder. These services help to enhance behavior skills, family strengths, facilitate collaboration among systems, and achieve continuity of care.
The primary purpose of this service is to keep families together and reduce the need for out-of-home placement. The program also may be used as a step-down treatment to help families stabilize and reunite when a child returns from hospitalization, foster care, or another placement.
Please call 412-798-6870 or 412-624-1000 for more information.
Program participation by the child and family member is voluntary. Parents or guardians must be willing to work actively with the treatment team. Families and their team develop a crisis plan. The family receives the crisis pager number during their first session. Program services include:
The treatment model is considered brief, although treatment can last up to 32 weeks. There are several parts to the treatment model, including: