Program Features
Who Can Receive WISe?
WISe is designed to provide comprehensive behavioral health services and supports to Medicaid-eligible individuals who are up to 21 years of age with complex behavioral health needs and their families.
Referring to WISe
You can refer a youth/young adult for a WISe screen at any time. Parents can initiate treatment, but after age 13, a child must consent to services. You should consider referring your youth/young adult for a WISe screen if he/she is:
- In Special Education and/or has a 504 Plan with multiple school suspensions for mental health and/or behavioral issues
- Involved in multiple systems (i.e. mental health, child welfare (CPS), juvenile justice, developmental disabilities services, and/or substance use disorder treatment) and the systems(s) are struggling to support your child together.
- Experiencing hard to understand behaviors that are challenging to you, other caregivers or other therapists/clinicians, and traditional services alone are not helping
When You Should Look to WISe
- You’re a frequent user of the crisis line or emergency rooms due to your child’s mental health
- Your child is experiencing challenging, hard to understand behaviors, and traditional services are not helping
- Your child is displaying an elevated risk of harm to themselves or others
- You’re in need of a more intensive and individualized approach for your child
- You’re in need of a more flexible and engaging approach for your child
- Your child is involved in more than one service system, and the system(s) are struggling with supporting the youth in a coordinated way
- Your child is in Special Education and/or has a 504 Plan, with multiple school suspensions for mental health and/or behavioral issues
The WISe program helped my child so much. The way the program creates a team of caring adults to surround and support was so powerful for everyone involved. There is a lot more understanding in our family now and my child is doing so much better.