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| The process |
The process of matching a young person's needs to a program that will meet those needs benefits greatly from knowledgeable guidance. In the services provided by Northwest Psychological Services, clients may expect the following:
- An initial phone consultation. We discuss the situation facing your family and prior efforts to resolve presenting issues at home. If we decide that placement with a specialized program is appropriate, we formalize our working arrangement. (If we decide that intervention placement is not needed at the present time, a small consultation fee is billed and records maintained in the event circumstances change and an intervention is needed at some later date.)
- Crisis placement (if needed). This step is often necessary as families may decide to pursue placement in response to a current serious problem (i.e., child has run-away, experienced legal difficulties, is discovered to be engaged in immediately dangerous activities, child is verbally/physically threatening). N.P.S. will guide the contracting process with professional escorts, and facilitate admissions to an appropriate program.
- Initial Placement and Assessment of Response (if needed). If child is placed in an initial placement (i.e., a therapeutic wilderness program), N.P.S. will maintain weekly contact with providers to assess your young person's response to intervention. Information gained through this process is often critical to making informed decisions about the appropriateness of follow-up care.
- Records Review. All pertinent records are forwarded to N.P.S., or permission is given for N.P.S. to obtain. Typically, students referred to specialty programs have received counseling or psychiatric services, and may have been evaluated within their schools for learning or behavioral issues.
- Interview of Child (optional). If child is available and willing to meaningfully participate, this can be a very important step. An interview may occur during the child's participation in a wilderness program or acute hospitalization if necessary.
- Formal Evaluation. Accurately determining a child's (and family's) needs is critical for selecting an optimum program, and formal testing is often helpful. Formal psychological/educational assessment can be provided by Dr. Nadasi for clients living or being served in Montana and Idaho. For clients in other states, these services are provided by licensed psychologists in those states and discussed with Dr. Nadasi. Many families may have had an evaluation prior to considering placement -- typically, these evaluations may provide the needed information for this step.
- Conceptualization of Needs and Recommendations. All information is considered by Dr. Nadasi and summarized into a draft written service plan with recommendations. Recommendations will include specific treatment and academic needs, and will typically include several programs with good potential to fully meet the described needs. The conceptualization is discussed and finalized as a plan. Based on this plan, N.P.S. contacts programs with potential to discuss availability of services and student characteristics.
- Submission of Applications. Choices are narrowed down, and applications are completed by parents and submitted for programs under consideration. Questions that come up in the process of review by admissions personnel may initially be directed to N.P.S.
- Parent Travel to Program. Following initial indications that student is likely a good fit for a program, parents visit programs under consideration and meet with admissions and program staff, tour the campus, and meet students served by the program they are considering. This is highly encouraged, as developing this personal relationship with the program you are considering can be an important head start for the work you will be doing.
- Final Selection of/by Programs. We discuss options, reactions, and observations, and parents choose a program. N.P.S. provides guidance for making final arrangements for initiating services and supporting a smooth transition.
- Placement Support. N.P.S. remains an active and informed advocate for the child and family. Contact with receiving program is intensive at first, and becomes less over time as child and family settle in. If difficulties present, N.P.S. is available to support the family's needs and to promote effective communication and collaboration.
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