When your child needs mental health support, you may suddenly find yourself coordinating therapists, doctors, school staff, insurance, and other services. Even when everyone wants to help, keeping track of who’s doing what can become overwhelming. You may also wonder whether different members of your teen’s care team are communicating effectively with each other.
For families with Medi-Cal, Intensive Care Coordination (ICC) for California youth could help bring the different pieces of a care team together.
It can be difficult to get doctors, schools, therapists, and other service providers to communicate with each other. Navigating mental healthcare can be confusing and overwhelming. To help, this page will explain:
Intensive Care Coordination (ICC) is a coordinated case management service, available through Medi-Cal, that helps children under age 21 who deal with emotional, mental, and behavioral health concerns.[1] Rather than providing one specific type of support, Intensive Care Coordination Medi-Cal services focus on several parts of a young person’s mental health care. This allows providers, family members, and other support systems to work together from a coordinated plan.
For parents, this may mean having one person who helps make the larger plan easier to understand. Instead of trying to connect every provider on your own, ICC mental health services can help organize communication and identify where support may be missing.
Not every child with a mental health concern or receiving mental health treatment will automatically qualify for Intensive Care Coordination for California youth. The state has specific requirements for these services. According to Medi-Cal, ICC eligibility in California generally applies to young people who:
You and your child must also demonstrate a need for services and show that they have a diagnosed mental health condition that impairs everyday functioning.[2] ICC is part of California specialty mental health services, which are provided or arranged through county Mental Health Plans for Medi-Cal beneficiaries who meet applicable criteria.[1]
Medical necessity is important because eligibility depends on your child’s mental health needs rather than simply having a particular diagnosis or attending therapy.
Through Medi-Cal ICC youth services, your family is provided with an ICC coordinator. This person helps coordinate services and keep the broader treatment plan organized.[1] Depending on your child’s needs, youth care coordination in California may include helping your family with:
The goal of Intensive Care Coordination for California youth is to create a clearer, shared approach instead of leaving families to connect every part of care themselves.[1]
An important part of ICC is the Child and Family Team (CFT). A Child and Family Team brings together the people involved in supporting the young person to develop and carry out a plan based on the child’s needs, strengths, and goals.[3]
A Child and Family Team may include:
California distinguishes between “formal supports,” such as care coordinators and providers, and “natural supports,” which may include relatives, friends, neighbors, or other people important in the family’s life.[1] Research shows that having more natural supports as part of the CFT was associated with better youth outcomes.[4]
An important part of child intensive care coordination is that, rather than professionals making all the decisions without the family’s input, the child and family become active participants. Everyone involved works together to decide what supports are needed and what goals everyone is working toward.
Mission Prep is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
It can be easy to assume that ICC is another form of therapy, but the two serve different purposes. Therapy typically focuses directly on a teen’s mental and emotional health. Depending on their needs, therapy may help them understand difficult emotions, process traumatic experiences, or build coping skills.
In comparison, ICC behavioral health services is a California resource that focuses on coordinating the larger system of care. This system might include:
ICC may look at which providers are involved, whether everyone understands the treatment plan, what additional support is needed, and whether the current services are working together effectively.[1]
A young person may receive both therapy and Intensive Care Coordination for California youth when they meet the requirements for each. ICC doesn’t replace medically necessary mental health treatment. Instead, it can help those treatments and support services work together.
If you think your teen could benefit from more coordinated mental healthcare, you don’t have to determine eligibility on your own. California families can contact their county Mental Health Plan and ask for an initial assessment for specialty mental health services. DHCS states that a county Mental Health Plan cannot deny a request for an initial assessment to determine whether a person meets the criteria for services.[2]
Children and teens may also be referred to a county Mental Health Plan by a doctor, school, family member or guardian, Medi-Cal managed care plan, or county agency. When asking about intensive care coordination for teens, it may help to ask:
Writing your questions down ahead of time can make these conversations easier, especially when you are already managing appointments and worrying about your child.
Take a tour of our teen residential mental health facilities located in California. Our locations offer peace & comfort within a residential environment where teenagers, aged 12-17, can relax and focus on themselves.
Our well-appointed facilities are located in Bonsall, Fallbrook, Rancho Palos Verdes
and Rolling Hills Estates.
Additionally, we offer both in-person and virtual outpatient services in California for full support after leaving residential.
Care coordination can help organize services, but teens may also need direct support for the emotional and behavioral challenges affecting their lives. At Mission Prep Teen Treatment, we offer tailored treatment programs that use evidence-based therapeutic approaches and innovative interventions to foster sustainable change for adolescents and their families.
While Intensive Care Coordination for California youth may help eligible Medi-Cal beneficiaries coordinate several parts of their mental healthcare, ICC is different from the direct therapeutic treatment Mission Prep Teen Treatment provides.
Our personalized, whole-person approach doesn’t just treat your teen’s symptoms. We also focus on their physical and emotional needs, working with their strengths, and helping them meet their goals. This comprehensive approach helps your teen understand their experiences, manage their emotions, and develop healthy coping tools.
Whether your teen could benefit from residential treatment at one of our California locations or something more flexible, like an outpatient mental health program delivered virtually, our team can help. Mission Prep Teen Treatment accepts insurance and is in-network with most major providers. We are happy to help you check your insurance coverage for mental health care.
If your teen is finding it hard to cope with their mental health and you are unsure what level of care they need, reach out. Start the admissions process online or call 866-901-4047 to speak with a caring member of our team who can answer any questions you might have. Reach out for a free, no-obligation conversation.
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We know that understanding Medi-Cal mental health services can take time, particularly when several programs have similar names. Below, we answer some common questions parents may have about ICC youth mental health services.
ICC is a specific form of targeted case management. ICC mental health services focus on assessment, service planning, coordination, monitoring, transitions, and collaboration through a Child and Family Team.[1] It’s more structured than typical case management services, which help someone schedule appointments or locate a provider.
Yes, having Medi-Cal is one of the requirements to receive ICC services. Intensive care coordination Medi-Cal services are available to beneficiaries under age 21 who have full-scope Medi-Cal and meet medical necessity criteria for ICC.[2] Aside from having Medi-Cal, ICC eligibility in California is determined based on your child’s circumstances and treatment needs.
No, your teen does not need to be in foster care to receive youth care coordination in California. Older information about ICC focuses heavily on children involved with the foster care or child welfare systems related to a 2002 court case.[5] But the current California Department of Health Care Services states that ICC is available when medically necessary for youth under 21 years old with full-scope Medi-Cal.[1]
At Mission Prep Teen Treatment, we help with teen mental health concerns by providing various levels of support that combine evidence-based treatment with holistic care to meet each teen’s needs. Our goal is to help your team understand their experiences, build confidence, and develop ways of coping that fit their needs and personality.
Are You Covered for Mental Health Treatment?
We’re in-network with many providers. Call us at 866-901-4047 to verify your benefits and find out how much your plan will cover
Find out if Mission Prep is right for you by reaching out to us and speaking with one of our admissions representatives.
