Children’s Behavioral Health Services Consulting

Access to timely and effective behavioral health services remains a challenge in many states. Across the nation, state and county agencies dedicated to the safety and well-being of children and young people are working to overcome the challenges presented by the current crisis in children's behavioral health. These challenges leave many children and families without the support they need and directly impact young people’s future success. Public Consulting Group (PCG) provides solutions for health and human services agencies to enhance the availability of children’s behavioral health services.

For over 35 years, PCG has worked alongside state agencies to better meet the needs of the people they serve. Our staff are former judges, child welfare directors, case managers, residential managers, therapists, psychiatrists, and behavioral health professionals bringing direct, first-hand experience managing and enhancing children’s behavioral health services at the state and local levels.

 

Solutions that Matter

Our experienced team members can support your agency with high-quality solutions for improving children’s behavioral health.  Services we offer include:

 

 

Leveraging Medicaid Funding 

Medicaid is a critical funding source for meeting children's behavioral health needs. Medicaid is used most effectively for youth and families when there is a well-established and collaborative working relationship between child-serving agencies and the state Medicaid Agency. The following approaches can be used to leverage Medicaid funding for youth and families.  

 

State Plan Amendment (SPA)

– SPAs are used to make changes to a state’s Medicaid plan that comply with existing federal rules Some examples include:

 

• The Medicaid Rehabilitation Option - allows states to provide treatment services to children and youth in the community, such as their own homes or even group homes or residential facilities when those services reduce physical or mental disability and help people regain their functional abilities.

• Early and Periodic Screening Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) - provides comprehensive and preventative health care services for children who are eligible to receive Medicaid. Children who are eligible for Medicaid must receive EPSDT services if the services are medically necessary.

 

Medicaid Waivers

– Existing federal law provides the federal government the ability to waive specific provisions of Medicaid policy 

 

• 1915i and 1915c – Home and Community Based Services waivers allow for state-specific policy approaches to better serve Medicaid populations, as long as the state can show that the services are budget neutral.
• 1115 Waiver - allows states to test innovative programs that differ from the Federal Medicaid Statute. 1115 waivers can expand Medicaid eligibility criteria (such as involvement with the child welfare system) and/or to expand the community-based service array (such as to services provided in schools).

 

 

Additional ways to support the actions above include:

• Build a solid relationship with the State Medicaid Agency for federal government (CMS) negotiations through workgroups and jointly established initiatives.  
• Look for opportunities to blend or braid funding for children involved with multiple public agencies – long-term sustainability of services reduces fragmentation and maximizes resources. ​ 
• Develop policies and procedures to leverage Medicaid with other funding sources through streamlining referral application and invoicing processes, minimizing providers from taking on the administrative burden.  
• Stay determined – Medicaid changes are a marathon, not a sprint and they require perseverance, patience, and creativity.

 

Why Partner with PCG?

We are national leaders in enhancing children’s behavioral health services, as evidenced by our work highlighted in the following case studies.  PCG is guided by the following principles:

• Collaborative client focus
• Inclusive, trauma-informed, culturally appropriate and equitable approach
• Stakeholder and community engagement, including people with living and lived experience
• Evidence-based practices
• National expertise in child and family services

 

 

 

Recent Success Stories

Enhancing Maine’s Children’s Behavioral Health System of Care

PCG assessed Maine’s children’s behavioral health system of care and recommended strategies to enhance the availability and quality of services across the largely rural state. We assisted the state in implementing recommendations and obtained an $8M system of care grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to improve access to services in rural areas of the state. PCG is now managing and implementing the State's Center of Excellence for Children's Behavioral Health and Well-Being including training the provider workforce statewide, publicizing the Center, and evaluating trainings.

Transforming Children’s Residential Services

We assisted Maryland, California, Colorado, Washington State, Michigan, and Texas to review their residential services program models, make enhancements to improve quality, and better meet the needs of children. PCG developed payment rates to support the enhanced program models and aligned rates to federal funding sources.

Supporting Wraparound Services in West Virginia

PCG developed a case management system for West Virginia’s wraparound program Safe at Home West Virginia which has been expanded for use by other wraparound programs in the state. The system serves as a centralized repository for Child Adolescent Strength and Needs (CANS) assessments for multiple wraparound programs, including children’s behavioral health, and other behavioral health programs, including residential and shelter providers.

 

Get to Know our Subject Matter Experts

 

Jen MacBlane

Jennifer MacBlane, Manager, with PCG, has over 25 years of experience in government and government consulting. She has been employed by PCG for more than 18 years and she specializes in helping jurisdictions develop effective systems of care for children, families, and individuals, including program design, payment and contracting strategies, and program evaluation. She has led service array assessments, rate studies, and evaluations in dozens of states across the nation addressing substance use, behavioral health, and child welfare issues. Contact Jen at jmacblane@pcgus.com.

 

Katie Gordon

Katie Gordon, a PCG Senior Consultant in Indianapolis, IN, has more than 18 years of experience working in human services. She has extensive experience in managing a variety of human services consulting engagements.  Katie currently manages PCG’s administration of the Michigan Capacity Building Center, which is a new and innovative training resource designed to expand training opportunities for children’s behavioral health service providers in Michigan.  Additionally, Katie assisted Maine’s Children’s Behavioral Health Services Division in developing a Strategic Vision and Guiding Principles and providing change management consultation to Iowa as they aligned two public serving agencies into one, among much more. Katie’s work also includes supporting several states in implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA).  She is the former Director of Research and Evaluation at the Indiana Department of Child Services where she led the evaluation of provider services and programs, including Systems of Care, residential providers, foster care providers, and general service providers. Katie’s experience includes evaluating offender programs and initiatives at the Indiana Department of Correction, such as the effect of correctional education programs on recidivism and employment. She is the co-author of several articles published in professional journals. Katie holds a Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts from Ball State University. 

 

Interested in learning more about Children’s Behavioral Health Services Consulting?

Contact us today!