Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative
What is the Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative?
The Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative is an interagency initiative of Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Health and Human Services whose mission is to strengthen, expand, and integrate Massachusetts state services into a comprehensive, community-based system of care to ensure that families and their children with significant behavioral, emotional, and mental health needs obtain the services necessary for success in home, school, and community.
CBHI Vision
The Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative places the family and child at the center of the service delivery system and has built an integrated system of behavioral health services that meets the individual needs of the child and family.
CBHI Strategic Priorities
- Increase timely access to appropriate behavioral health services
- Expand array of community-based services
- Reduce health disparities
- Promote clinical best practice and innovation
- Establish an integrated behavioral health system across state agencies
- Strengthen, expand, and diversify workforce
- Mutual accountability, transparency, and continuous quality improvement
Who is eligible for CBHI services?
- Youth under the age of 21 who are identified as having a serious emotional disturbance.
Who can make CBHI referrals?
- Referrals can be made by a family member, physician, therapist, school, out-patient mental health clinic, self-referral, and a Community Service Agency.
Which type of CBHI Services are offered by the Key Program?
1. THERAPEUTIC MENTORING PROGRAM services provided to youth in any setting where the youth resides such as the home or a foster home and in other community settings such as a school. A Bachelor's level therapeutic mentor addresses the youth's daily living, social and communication skills. Services include supporting, coaching and training the youth in age-appropriate behaviors, interpersonal communication, skill-building, conflict resolution and relating appropriately to other youth and adults.
SE MA referrals:
Pat St. Germain, M.A. LSW at (508) 675-0763 or at pstgermain@key.org
Western MA referrals:
Dr. Michael Goodwin at (413) 733-3113 ext. #1 or at mgoodwin@key.org
2. IN-HOME THERAPY PROGRAM services consists of In-Home Therapy provided by a licensed Master’s level Clinician and a BA-Level Therapeutic Training and Support worker. Services include: a behavioral health assessment, development of a treatment plan; individual and family therapy; and implementation of the treatment plan.
Waltham referrals:
Dr. Paula Stahl at (781) 894-4325 or pstahl@key.org
Western MA referrals:
Dr. Michael Goodwin at (413) 733-3113 ext. #1 or at mgoodwin@key.org