Therapeutic Behavioral Services Program
Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) is a one-to-one behavioral mental health intervention available to children and youth under the age of 21 who have serious emotional challenges. TBS can also help children, youth, parents, caregivers, foster parents, group home staff, and school personnel learn new ways of reducing and managing challenging behaviors. TBS provides strategies and skills to increase the kinds of behaviors that will enable children and youth to succeed in their current environment.
Who Qualifies to Receive TBS?
TBS is available to children and youth under age 21 who have serious emotional challenges and are eligible for a full array of Medi-Cal benefits without restrictions or limitations (full scope Medi-Cal). To qualify, a child must: (1) be at risk of placement in a Rate Classification Level (RCL) 12 or higher group home (whether or not an RCL 12 or higher placement is available); (2) be at risk of placement in a psychiatric hospital (whether or not a psychiatric hospital is available); (3) have a history of psychiatric hospitalization within the past 24 months; or (4) be in an RCL 12 (or higher) group home and need TBS to prevent placement failure.
How Can TBS Help?
Examples of behaviors that could benefit from TBS intervention may include:
- Poor Impulse Control
- Poor or Impaired Judgment
- Oppositional Behaviors and Defiance
- Extreme Tantrums
- Physical Aggression
- Extreme Anxiety
- Extreme Isolation
- Unsafe or Self-Injurious Behaviors
What does the CAN TBS Program Offer?
This program provides complete and thorough assessment of the child’s unique needs, strengths and talents in a culturally sensitive manner. Individualized treatment plans target one to three specific behavioral problems. TBS conducts monthly treatment team meetings that include the youth’s therapist, caregivers and other meaningful members in the child’s life. TBS coaches work one-on-one with the youth and caregivers in their home and/or community.
Transitional plans are completed to assist caregivers in sustaining improvements made. Therapeutic Behavioral Services have been proven to make a difference for children and families by helping to keep children in their homes and communities and by preventing the need for high-level care and psychiatric hospitalization. TBS is highly effective for children with a variety of severe emotional and behavioral difficulties, including children served by child welfare agencies, probation departments and schools. The goal is for these children and youth to achieve permanence, avoid incarceration and maintain school placements.