The Clark County Department of Family Services (CCDFS) proposes filling identified gaps and implementing enhanced direct therapeutic and clinical care coordination services for children, youth, and families suffering from or affected by a serious emotional disturbance. The project aims to serve children and youth ages 0-21 across Clark County, Nevada, the 14th largest county in the nation, covering the entire southern region of Nevada, including Las Vegas, home of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. Meeting the needs of individuals requiring mental health assistance has been challenging. Nevada has ranked last in the nation overall, indicating a high prevalence of mental illness and low access to care.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Nevada has felt the devastation of disease, job loss, and poor mental health outcomes. For younger children, being in out-of-home foster care can lead to disparities in health and development, including brain formation and development that can impact a child’s future learning, behavior, mental and physical health (Casey.org). By addressing mental health and substance use issues in those with severe emotional disturbances, we can improve outcomes for children, youth, and families, especially underserved populations.
Although the Medicaid expansion has allowed a more substantial proportion of individuals to receive insurance coverage, many qualified mental health providers do not accept Medicaid patients due to low reimbursement rates leaving marginalized patients without adequate care options. These patients are frequently the same clients in child welfare and social services settings. This project proposes to offer a full range of clinical health services to children, youth, and their families referred to child welfare. It supports the mental health needs of this population by increasing access to services where identified gaps and lack of availability have been identified. Two of these gaps include providing therapeutic respite support to caregivers and intensive day treatment services for children assessed with high mental health and behavioral challenges. Caregivers of this population often experience burnout. Post-adoption, guardianship, and fictive kin placements often feel left without adequate support services. CCDFS has partnered with The Therapeutic Solution to provide specialized therapeutic respite to this population and prevent caregiver burnout and child relinquishment. Intensive day treatment services allow for a higher level of care to be delivered to our pediatric population (0-12 years of age) and those requiring direct therapeutic and mental health services. Healthy Minds has committed to supporting this project by providing Intensive Outpatient and Partial Hospitalization Programs.
The Clark County Mental Health Expansion Project proposes expanding the Nevada System of Care and providing augmented resources to improve the behavioral, mental health, intellectual, and developmental needs of children, youth, and families who suffer from serious emotional disturbances.
