STEP 1 : INITIATING THE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT REFERRAL


Psychiatric hospital social worker does the following:

• The hospital social worker contacts the CYD liaison office at (215) 683-6120 to establish CYD involvement. The liaison office identifies the assigned DHS social worker, supervisor, and social work administrator for the hospital.
• The hospital social worker contacts the assigned DHS social worker to obtain the child’s legal status, parental rights, physical custody, and other necessary information.
• The hospital social worker notifies parents/custodians, other involved parties including the DHS assigned social worker, child advocate, treatment providers, and others as needed of the child’s hospital admission and collects any relevant information.

• It is the responsibility of the DHS social worker and supervisor to identify a coverage person in their absence for the hospital social worker to work with.
• The DHS social worker will also notify parents/custodian, child advocate and DHS' provider agency social worker of the child’s hospitalization.
• The DHS social worker facilitates family participation in working with the hospital and in discharge planning. This may include assistance in transportation to the hospital for visitation and/or assistance in attending the inter-agency meeting.
• The DHS social worker and supervisor must maintain close communication and collaboration with the hospital social worker throughout the hospitalization period and discharge planning process.

• The hospital social worker notifies all involved parties of the need for an inter-agency meeting to discuss recommendations. All involved parties must confirm their attendance to the hospital social worker.
• The DHS social worker must participate in the hospital inter-agency meeting. The inter-agency meeting is a high priority and the DHS social worker should make effort to make it the primary appointment for the day assigned.
• The inter-agency meeting is convened by the hospital social worker in collaboration with the DHS social worker and other involved parties. The purpose of the inter-agency meeting is to discuss the overall needs of the child including treatment, post hospital residential and other aftercare needs. It is a forum to create a coordinated aftercare plan.
• The parent/caretaker with legal custody must be given the opportunity to participate in the inter-agency meeting and to sign the treatment plan. The DHS social worker has primary responsibility to facilitate the parent/caretaker’s participation.
• When a parent/caretaker is not available or refuses to participate or to sign the treatment plan, the DHS social worker will, if necessary, file "A Petition to Treat" with family court.
• Once there is an agreement about the type of treatment services and post hospital residential needs, the hospital social worker will proceed with referrals.

• The hospital social worker sends evaluations to potential RTF programs. Rejections and reasons for rejections will be tracked by the hospital social worker. The hospital treatment team and CBH service manager in consultation with DHS social worker will identify appropriate RTF options in state and out of state if needed. Every effort must be made to use in state placements.
• The hospital social worker and DHS social worker with the placement resource will develop mutually acceptable dates for interviews and transfers. Should there be a need to reschedule the agreed upon dates the DHS social worker will reschedule and notify the hospital social worker the same day. Every effort must be made to accommodate the initial interview and/or transfer dates.
• The hospital social worker completes the RTF packet and forwards the original to the CBH service manger for review/approval. The CBH courier will deliver 1150 waiver packets to the DHS/RTF staff for attachment 8 signatures.
• The CBH courier will return signed packets to CBH upon DHS’ signature.
• The DHS social worker is responsible for obtaining documentation necessary for admission, i.e., birth certificate, immunization record, IEP and other relevant school information.

• Non-RTF treatment is defined as community based treatment (outpatient treatment, wrap-around service, partial hospital programs) for children who return home or enter a DHS residential setting (foster home, group home or institution).
• The DHS Central Referral Unit and assigned DHS social worker will begin a search for the recommended residential setting immediately upon receipt of a faxed copy of the psychiatric evaluation and discharge plan. The more specific the description of the treatment services needed in the discharge plan, the quicker and better the match with the residential setting. Copies of both the evaluation and discharge plan must be faxed to the assigned DHS worker and to the Central Referral Unit. (CRU fax’s 215 683-6866 and 215 683 -5838). The hospital social worker will alert CRU (215 683-6453) that a fax is being forwarded.
• The CRU social worker will update the hospital social worker on the status of the placement search. The DHS social worker has the sole responsibility for arranging pre-placement interviews, the selection of the placement resource and the placement dates.
• As soon as a post hospital placement service has been selected, the CRU will communicate that selection to the hospital social worker who will then make referrals for community based treatment services.
• The hospital social worker will notify the DHS social worker and the DHS provider social worker of the name of the treatment provider(s), a contact person and the dates and times of any appointments made.
• The CBH service manager will be available to DHS and hospital social worker to assure the completion of the post hospital treatment process.
• The hospital social worker and/or CBH will assure treatment services are in place prior to discharge.
• The hospital social worker will assure a supply or medication upon discharge (if needed) and/or prescriptions.