Indicator: 18 - Home Care of Youth With Severe Behavioral Health Problems

Why This Is Important

National estimates of children with serious emotional disturbance have ranged from 7% to 19% of the total population. Children and adolescents with severe behavioral health problems and their families often struggle to receive services and supports that enable the child to continue living at home in their community. The more such services can be provided, the more likely that families can be kept together and that the child will not need to be put in an out-of-home placement.

Where We Stand

The chart displays the number of children who received each of three types of in-home services from the Children’s Services Program of Maine’s Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services (BDS) between 1999 and 2002. In all three cases, the number served increased substantially over this period; the number who got habilitation services rose by 336%, those receiving behavioral health services increased 135%, and children who accessed targeted case management rose 518%.

Children’s Habilitation Services (formerly MaineCare Section 24) are for children diagnosed with mental retardation or autism, are provided in the child’s home or community, and focus mainly on increased skill/physical development and behavior management. Children’s Behavioral Health Services (formerly MaineCare Section 65H) are also provided in the child’s home or community and focus similarly on behavior management and increased skill/physical development. Targeted Case Management identifies the medical, social, educational, and other needs of the children, locates services needed to meet those needs, and helps children and their families to access those services.

Data Sources and Context

Data comes from the Children’s Services Program, Maine Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services.