Behavior Management Service Program

	HIGHLIGHTS
	Ages 4 through 21 years In-Home and School Behavior Management Services Strength Based and Family Focused One-to-One Behavior Management Transition from Residential Treatment Prevention From Out-of-Home Placement Individualized Service Plan Parents as Partners in team meetings School Transitioning Flexible Hours Medicaid Approved

Program Definition
Behavior Management Services (BMS) are structured services designed to serve individuals with emotional, behavioral, neurobiological, or substance abuse problems of such severity that appropriate functioning in the home, school, and community requires highly structured behavioral interventions.  These services are part of an individualized service plan designed to develop, restore, or maintain skills and behaviors which result in improved functioning or which prevent deterioration of functioning.

These services are designed to maintain the child in his or her home, school and community.

BMS services are a time-limited flexible service intended to meet the child’s needs in the least restrictive environment.  It may be used in conjunction with other mental health services when clinically indicated (i.e. Day Treatment or Out Patient Therapy), or it may be used as an independent service.

Client Eligibility
BMS services are delivered to individuals ages four (4) to seventeen (17) who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• A child who is in need of behavior management intervention to avoid in-patient hospitalization, residential treatment, or separation from their family
• A child who requires continued intensive or supportive treatment following hospitalizations or out-of-home placement as a transition to maintain the least restrictive environment possible

A Behavior Management Specialist will help:

• Reduce acting-out behaviors and maintain the child in the home and school
• Teach behavior management skills to parents/guardians
• Mediate conflicts and teach resolution and coping skills
• Teach and develop behavior modification programs within the home and school
• Develop community resources and a support system for child and family
• Develop a consistent, structured routine within the home
• Participate in child’s individual and family therapy sessions, Individual Education Plan (IEP) meetings, and medication management (as requested)
• Focus on positive skills acquisition and the improvement of the individual and the family’s performance on target behaviors

What are Behavior Management Services?
Behavior Management Services (BMS) provide specially trained individuals to work one-to-one with children who have behavior problems.  These individuals are called Behavior Management Specialists and they can work with the children in the school and/or home setting.

Which students are eligible for BMS?
Any student with behavioral problems at school or home is potentially eligible for BMS.  An assessment here at Desert Hills can determine if BMS is the most appropriate service for that particular child.

Who Pays for BMS?
Because BMS is a behavioral health service,  health insurance may cover it.  Medicaid pays for BMS if it is determined that BMS is the appropriate level of care for the child. Private insurance does not typically pay for BMS, but special funds are available from the state of New Mexico in these circumstances.  We can also help students and families obtain Medicaid if they are eligible but have not yet applied.

Is it ok for BMS to come into schools to provide services?
Yes.  We have had BMS in the schools since our program began 12 years ago.  We have received permission from APS administration to have BMS in the school.  When the case begins we also introduce the BMS to all relevant APS staff, including the principal and classroom teacher, to insure a good working relationship.