Intensive Home-Based Treatment

Some children and adolescents experience challenges that require more intensive counseling services than traditional once-a-week appointments can provide. Intensive Home-Based Treatment may be appropriate when a young person is experiencing more serious emotional or behavioral disturbances.

Disturbances that put them at risk of being removed from their home. And, this program is designed to prevent that by promoting safety and stability within the home and community settings. A child or adolescent may be appropriate for this program if they’re between the ages of 4-18 and they:

  • Display emotional instability which interferes with daily life
  • Are at risk of harming themselves or others
  • Experienced trauma and are struggling with post-traumatic stress symptoms
  • Have had one or more psychiatric hospitalizations
  • Exhibit disruptive or aggressive behavior
  • Struggle with multiple school suspensions/expulsions
  • Have had a recent or current residential placement with a plan of family reunification
  • Have family involvement with a child welfare agency
  • Experience conflict within the family unit

Intensive Home-Based Treatment therapy sessions occur multiple times per week and can be in various locations such as in the home, at school or in the community, as needed. Treatment is short-term, and may last 3 to 6 months in duration until stability is reached and this level of therapeutic care is no longer needed. The program includes:

  • Initial and ongoing assessment
  • Safety planning
  • In-home and community-based individual and family therapy sessions
  • Therapeutic Behavioral Services
  • Crisis stabilization, advocacy, and education on mental health symptoms and treatment
  • Possible referral for psychiatry services

Intensive Home-Based Treatment uses evidenced based approaches building on strengths and focusing on resiliency. Support and guidance will be provided to the child as they successfully learn how to utilize healthier thinking patterns and positive coping skills. The therapist will offer techniques and supportive interventions specific to the challenges parents face with their child. They will work with the family to improve positive communication and strengthen family dynamics.

Important facts about our program and staff:

  • UMCH Family Services clinicians are trained to use evidence-based practices and trauma informed care including one or more of the following:
    • ChildTrauma Academy’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutic (NMT)
    • Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    • Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
  • 89% of the young people previously at risk of removal remained successfully at home when UMCH’s Intensive Home-Based Therapy was complete (data years 2019 & 2020).
  • UMCH Family Services’ IHBT team undergoes a yearly fidelity review to ensure adherence to the model and maintain certification by OhioMHAS.

“The Center for Innovative Practices would like to commend UMCH Family Services IHBT team for achieving high fidelity to the model. UMCH has a well-developed IHBT program in Columbus, Ohio.  They have invested in maintaining the IHBT standards and are able to produce positive outcomes with the youth and families that they serve.”  – Excerpts from a recent fidelity review