Unison Health is launching a new home-based program focused on providing services and support to youth facing serious emotional and mental health challenges and their families.
The Intensive Home-Based Treatment Program will provide intensive in-home services to youth in Lucas, Williams, Fulton, Defiance, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Mercer, and Van Wert counties.
The program was made possible by a grant of $532,729 from the Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center of Excellence and the Ohio Department of Medicaid.
IHBT is offered through the OhioRISE Program, an initiative of Ohio Medicaid and the office of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to increase access and care management for children with mental health concerns.
OhioRISE is a Medicaid program in Ohio designed to help young people with significant behavioral health issues succeed in their schools, homes, and communities.
"IHBT represents a crucial step forward in our commitment to providing comprehensive mental health support to youth and families. By offering intensive, in-home services, we are better equipped to address the complex needs of these individuals, help them achieve positive outcomes, and provide hope for the future,” said Jeff DeLay, Unison’s president and CEO. “This program underscores Unison's dedication to promoting mental health and well-being for all."
The IHBT program will work with youth ages 5 to 18 with severe emotional disabilities or mental health diagnoses that significantly impact their lives at school and home. These youth may exhibit disruptive or aggressive behavior; struggle with peers and academics resulting in multiple suspensions or expulsions, be at risk of out-of-home placement, or be involved with the juvenile justice system and/or child services.
Bill Emahiser, director of public relations for Unison Health, said the program is only open to Medicaid recipients. As a nonprofit, Unison has traditionally worked with people with a lower socio-economic status.
“The IHBT program is evidence-based and has worked in other areas of Ohio,” Mr. Emahiser said. “In the end, the fiscal costs are much lower than what they are having the child go to residential treatment, the juvenile justice system or foster care.”
Veronica Laverde, manager of IHBT, added the program will also cost the taxpayers less in the long run.
“This program is available 24/7 for the youth and families in the program,” Ms. Laverde said. “The child and family have access to a caseworker, a licensed therapist, and a psychologist to help stabilize the child in the home. We want to provide mental health services and support to help youth succeed and to promote a healthy family dynamic. Services will be delivered at the family's convenience. It is more efficient and costs less than going into an emergency room because they are in crisis. This program supports the kids and their families.”
Ms. Laverde said over 600 children have already qualified for the program, which is expected to launch in July.
“We believe the program will help reduce the number of expulsions, suspensions, and involvement with the juvenile justice department,” she said. “It will also help stabilize the family unit. Many times, families are afraid they are not able to keep their child at home safely. We will help the family learn how to calm things down. We will offer them the support they need to keep the family together.”
Megan Rinehart, Unison's director of child and family programs, said IHBT addresses a significant community need. Current youth mental health services primarily focus on individual or group therapy in office settings or residential treatment. Given the unique needs of youth, home environments, and family dynamics, IHBT is expected to be a transformative resource for families.
"Our ultimate goal is to keep youth safe at home, preserve the family unit, and provide additional support to help youth improve their lives moving forward, facilitating opportunities for growth and healing," Ms. Rinehart said. “At Unison, we are committed to ensuring that all individuals have access to the care they need to thrive, and IHBT is a significant step towards achieving that goal and creating lasting positive change.”
Dr. Richard Wagner, a child psychiatrist with Unison Health, said he was thrilled Ohio was willing to support a program like IHBT.
“The state government is willing to invest the time and the resources in this program because it sees there is a real need for it,” Dr. Wagner said. “The program is being offered in every community possible, and that is exciting.”
Dr. Wagner said society is more aware of the psychological issues in some young people, especially after the coronavirus. Medication cannot fix all of the issues, he said.
“The cases are different for different people, but we are all more aware,” Dr. Wagner said. “The team approach with this program is valuable. Each child is an individual. We will be able to witness the child in their own home and in the family unit. We can see what part of the puzzle needs to be worked on. We will be able to help the family in the home and to deal with the issues that might contribute to their child’s issues.”
School districts will also benefit from the IHBT program.
“Right now schools have to deal with kids who are out of control. Who are bullying, hurting other people or themselves, and kids who destroy property,” Dr. Wagner said. “The schools, teachers, and parents are all overwhelmed. This program allows us to put the support in the home, where it needs to be. We can help parents not miss work, we can help the schools with a lower incidence of behavior issues, and we can help with less hospitalization, juvenile justice incarceration, and lower the rate of families having to relinquish custody in order to get help for their child.”
Unison is working on having four groups of IHBT teams that will each work on 12 cases at a time. The program is expected to run three to six months. Youth will then transition to other therapeutic settings like office therapeutic visits.
“It is an honor to have Unison chosen for this program,” Dr. Wagner said. “The need is there and Unison is offering wraparound care to families and their child. It takes a village to raise a child. The village is not a place, but it is people. People helping people. In this case, the team, along with the family will all be working in unison to help the child in the end.”
Unison plans to start enrollment into the program beginning in July. IHBT is a service covered by Ohio Medicaid under the OhioRISE plan.
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