Community Based Treatment Alternatives for Children

MISSISSIPPI

Grant Information


Name of Grantee

Division of Medicaid

Title of Grant

Mississippi's Community Based Treatment Alternatives for Children Project

Type of Grant

Community Based Treatment Alternatives for Children

Amount of Grant

$99,000

Year Original Funding Received

2003

Contact Information


Kristi Plotner
Project Director
601-359-6698
lmkrp@medicaid.state.ms.us

Mike Gallarno
Bureau Director
239 N. Lamar Street, Suite 801
Jackson, MS 39201

601-359-6697
lmrmg@medicaid.state.ms.us

Subcontractor(s)

MS Families as Allies for Children's Mental Health
Vanderbilt University

Target Population(s)


Children with serious emotional disturbance (SED).

Goal


The goal of this project is to examine the feasibility of developing a waiver program that will provide home and community services for children with SED who have a history of placement at psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs) or who are at immediate risk for being placed in a PRTF.

Activities


  • Conduct focus groups and surveys to assess community treatment alternatives to residential treatment or institutionalization.
  • Analyze and publish findings from the feasibility study.
  • Develop an implementation and evaluation plan based on findings from the feasibility study.

Abstract


Over the past 5 years, many factors have occurred in Mississippi that have readied the State for a concerted effort to promote community treatment alternatives in a creative manner. A coordinated system of community-based treatment serves the majority of SED children in Mississippi. However, a small percentage of children, estimated from 1 to 3 percent, still are not served. For these children, the State plans to pursue flexible treatment options that will allow them to have access to a continuum of care to meet their specific needs.

This feasibility study will allow the Division to determine the potential costs and cost savings associated with a waiver program for this population. Families of children with high-intensity needs will be included so that their needs will be taken into account and addressed in the development of services. The Division of Medicaid will also develop an implementation plan for a potential waiver program and an evaluation plan that will determine if the goals of the program are being accomplished.

The ultimate goal of this project is to assess community based alternatives to residential treatment or institutionalization, which will position the State to make a successful application for a 10-year demonstration grant proposed in the President's FY 2004 budget to operate an HCBS waiver for children with SED.