Paying for Residential Programs for Teens

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  • Teen substance use programs for those on MediCal?

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    Oct 22, 2023

    My kid is nearly 17 and is severely hooked on weed + messing with harder drugs. In two years of searching for a program that can help her/us I'm constantly referred to Thunder Road. It's closed! We've been in YOSUP and they agree that a residential program is in order, but then how to pay for it? We're a low income family on Alameda Alliance through MediCal. It's taken three years just to find her a therapist - who also says she needs a more intensive program. 

    Does anyone have suggestions? 

    Also, we're interested in any al-anon + al-teen programs in the Berkeley/Oakland/Albany area. Thank you! 

    Oct 22, 2023

    I don't have any suggestions but I wanted to say I sympathize. I'm helping a young woman on Medi-cal to get medical treatment through Alameda Alliance. She has a number of health problems including chronic asthma and she really needs a therapist too. All I have to show for over a year's worth of trying is a lot of unreturned phone calls. We even showed up in person at Highland to try to schedule a clinic appointment. They don't take appointments. I did figure out how to get her in for dental and eye exams at UCSF and UCB. But she still does not have a GP or a therapist, so kudos to you for getting therapy in place for your daughter and using the UCSF drug treatment program. The frustrating thing is there are so many resources listed on the Alameda Alliance website - at Highland Hospital and Lifelong Medical and lots of other local practices, but there is basically one gatekeeper - a phone number to call that either never answers or says they'll call you back.  I guess Medi-Cal people are meant to use the ER for regular checkups and not have ongoing problems like asthma and trauma and substance abuse. 

    Oct 23, 2023

    I don't know for sure, but I *think* The New Bridge Foundation takes Medi - Cal.  I have a loved one who went there, and I thought they were very professional and caring.

    https://www.newbridgefoundation.org/

    Oct 23, 2023

    Can you get services through your school district?  If his drug problem is interfering with academics, that's a FAPE issue and they're required by law to provide services.  There are Non-public residential schools, but I don't know if they take kids with active psychiatric or substance use problems.  Worth looking into.  You could call DREDF and see if this is something they can help you with.  My kid lost his teenage mind in high school, was smoking/vaping every day, failing.  We ended up getting residential covered.  Some places do take medical, I've heard.  Anyhow, good luck and hang in there.  dredf.org

    Oct 23, 2023

    Can you speak to her primary care provider? They should be able to advocate for her. But it would be important that she is interested in getting treatment. There is much less that can be done when the patient doesn’t want help. 

    Oct 30, 2023

  • My teen needs rehab but we have terrible insurance

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    Jul 6, 2022

    In the process of trying to get a Single Case Agreement thru our mental health insurance- HMC Healthworks. (changed to Uprise recently) but the admin at Newport Academy said it doesn't look good because they probably won't pay their rates. I believe her and I believe when she calls me back tomorrow the answer will be no, after all the insurance company has only 1 psychiatrist that accepts their insurance near us. Does anyone have advice on next steps when they refuse the single case agreement? My 15 year old has been hospitalized twice in the past for depression and anxiety, and now she needs a rehab. (Think- oxy, weed, coke)  She is dual diagnosis. Has a therapist and psychiatrist and is taking meds but she's out of control (lying, sneaking out, verbally abusive "I hope you die' 'I'd kill you in a purge', 'fuck off', etc.. cutting, trading pics and actual sex acts for drugs, (apparently they just VENMO each other for that!!,)   skipped almost her entire sophomore year, OD'd last month, threatening suicide when I won't let her see her friends or when I take her phone... So she needs a higher level of care. I'm at a complete loss. We cannot afford to pay without insurance, we can't even afford a private consultant. Isn't there some kind of insurance law the company has to pay for care like this?

    Jul 6, 2022

    Hi there. I'm so sorry for your situation.  Yes there is supposed to be parity, but insurance companies all the time limit services and then while you might win a lawsuit, your child and family suffer in the meantime.  I am not exactly in your situation but we did have mental health issues making school attendance unsafe and impossible and now my kid's IEP has them in a residential therapeutic school that provides both the educational and therapeutic pieces. (Though not intended as respite care we are nonetheless getting respite as a result and it is saving our family).  I am wondering if your quickest route (and by quick I mean a few months) would be through your school district.  Your child is entitled to an accessible education; if mental health issues mean a higher level of care, more structured and contained environment is required to achieve that, the district is supposed to provide it.  In any event, you can get solid information about realistic and reliable next steps via https://dredf.org/  and https://www.willowsinthewind.com/  and  WTRS: Wilderness Therapy and Residential Treatment Search Support on Facebook.   Wishing all of you peace and ease. 

    Jul 11, 2022

    It sound like RTC is needed. This is long term Residential Treatment. If your child has an IEP the District will pay. These programs include mental health and some are also specific for substance abuse. Some resources are Willows in the Wind parents support which meets online monthly. Also Facebook has an Wilderness Therapy and Residential Search group (WTRS parents). Check them out. You can also contact DREDF here in Berkeley for advice on IEPs.  

    Jul 11, 2022

    Hi.

     I am broken-hearted by what you have and are going through. Never having had these experiences, I cannot imagine the pain that you and your daughter must be in. If ever there was an example of why we need universal insurance, this is it.

     I believe California law does require your insurance to cover rehab and mental health services in parity with its physical health coverage. This bill was signed into law in 2020 and went into effect in 2021, despite massive pushback from the insurance industry.

    You might consider contacting Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) for guidance and support. They may work with you directly, or refer you to other resources.

     I will be keeping you in my heart and hoping your family can access what it needs. Your daughter may not realize this, but you are an amazing, loving, and very hardworking parent who is dealing with an impossible situation. Please don’t let despair drag you under. Remember to find ways to take care of yourself through this time.

    Jul 11, 2022

    I wanted to reach out and just say I have so much empathy for you.  My teen daughter has also been hospitalized multiple times and has similar issues of suicidal ideation and self harm - dealing with it all has been the darkest nightmare.  I don't have an answer to your insurance question, but I wanted to recommend a group I found helpful: family sanity.   Just google FamilySanity.org.  It's a support group but the two women who run it and the other participants know a lot about how to get insurance companies to pay for things, how to deal with the public school IEP process, all of it.  I have learned so much and I would never have figured it out on my own.  

    Jul 11, 2022

    Hi—I am so sorry that you are going through this. My family has experienced something similar. It is awful and you are not alone. 
    if you kid was enrolled in public school, you may be able to get the school district to pay for residential treatment. The process is not easy, especially while you are dealing with everything else. I highly recommend investing in a few hours with education attorney Deborah Jacobson in Berkeley. Of all of the people that I interacted with when I was in the thick of navigating finding treatment, she was like a breath of fresh air. I can’t remember exactly how much we paid her (around $1200) but we got many, many times that amount in cost savings. Someone at her firm may be able to do a quick free consultation to help you figure out if she can help you. Best of luck. 

    Jul 11, 2022

    If/when you are denied by phone, ask for the denial in writing and ask to file an expedited appeal.  Keep a log of all communications (names/dates/titles).   Do a web search for a DMHC complaint. Familiarize yourself with the California dept of Managed Health Care process for filing a complaint and/or requesting an IMR.  DMHC has the power to overrule a health plan. 

    Jul 11, 2022

    Are you familiar with Willows in the Wind, an organization by and for parents with troubled teens who need residential treatment?  info [at] willowsinthewind.com There are monthly meetings in Oakland, Los Altos and San Rafael.  They may be able to connect you to someone who had the kind of experience with insurance that you're having.  Even if they can't, it's a wonderful support and resource. willowsinthewind.com / info [at] willowsinthewind.com  Best of luck.

    Jul 11, 2022

    If your teen is in public school and has not yet graduated high school, you should get an IEP. This may help pay for the cost of rehab. Write to your school counselor and the district head of special education. It’s supposed to be 15 days from the start of the school year, at least in my district. Good luck

    Jul 11, 2022

    I am so sorry you are in this horrible situation with little support. Please consider contacting Willows in the Wind and NAMI SF. Both organizations have free support groups that have been invaluable to me with my teenager now young adult struggling with mental health and substance use challenges. The lovely people there can point you in the right direction to get your daughter the care she needs.

    Do something kind for yourself today and everyday while you navigate your way through this. You are not alone.

    Jul 11, 2022

    Ask the school district for an special needs evaluation.  They are responsible for providing her an education- sometimes this stems back to learning differences and it expresses itself like this if it isn’t caught in earlier years.  They can’t blame it on drugs too- go from the grades and truancy part.  There is a federal law that states they must locate and find children till the age of 21 of any special or extenuating need.    I’d say a child not attending school is that category and they must help you deal with this.  It’s just an avenue to consider.  The thing to remember here is little issues become bigger ones when they get to be a teen, so the school may have failed you guys earlier.  I’ve seen huge law suits over this in public schools- though the kid isn’t elementary age anymore- they may not have picked up on something earlier that turned it into this- and now your kid doesn’t “have access” to her education due to these issues.  I encourage you to look into this box for support.  It won’t be easy figuring out the “language” but often getting an education assessment through the school district is a place to start.  Then you can demand psych educational testing at the district cost if the Ed testing done by the district isn’t turning up anything.  So sorry you are going through this!  my guess is some of this was there before but in expressed in another form.  You are a great parent to reach out!  
     

    https://www.understood.org/en/articles/child-find-what-it-is-and-how-it…

    Jul 11, 2022

    So sorry you are going through this- I've been there and would not wish this experience on anyone.  

    I know you mentioned a private consultant may not be an option but I highly suggest you work with one.  There are a lot of programs out there and it can be really overwhelming to find the right fit for your daughter.  And a good ed consultant will know the schools that offer payment plans or are more flexible working with insurance.  Review your insurance policy- see if there is any coverage for substance abuse disorder. If there isn't, they aren't going to cover but if there is they should negotiate the rate with a provider who does take your insurance.

    Paying for all this is crazy expensive.  My carrier now covers detox, rehab, even sober living but they didn't when this journey started for my family over 4 years ago.  Back then I had to pull money out of the house to help cover the cost of a therapeutic boarding school.  

    One option others I know of have leveraged...  Does your daughter have an IEP or other special ed services at school?  Have you reported to the school the issues you are dealing with?  If you have a history of reaching out to her high school for assistance and support and have documented her current needs but they have not made any accommodations you may be able to get the school district to pay for treatment.  I know a number of parents in a similar situation who have been successful going that route- you'll need a lawyer who specializes in exactly this but if you've got history of reaching out to the school and her needs have not been met you have a good chance of the district paying.  It is worth the consult to find out.

    You mention your daughter has threatened suicide.  Have you had her admitted under a 5150 psychiatric hold?  That might help to get things moving for other avenues of support.  It's really, really important to do everything you can now before she turns 18.  

    You didn't ask but I will mention how important it is for you and your partner to get support for yourselves.  I have found and still find peace (plus a great resource) in NarAnon.  It is for friends and families dealing with the disease of addiction and you can always find a meeting virtual, in person just about anywhere.  Taking care of your own mental health is super important along with accepting what you can and cannot control.  

    Again I am sorry - it is truly an awful situation to be in but finding others who have walked this path can be extremely helpful.  

    Jul 11, 2022

    I am so sorry that you are going through this. I have traveled this road as well and just want to heartily support contributors suggestions about Willows in the Wind, Family Sanity, and getting an IEP for your child. We got one for my child even though they were not enrolled in the public high school at the start of the process (we enrolled them, then started the process.) A kind facilitator from Willows walked me through every step, and from the moment the IEP was granted, the district paid for my child's residential treatment. I also want to call out another exceptional local resource: Coyote Coast in Orinda. Check out their web site. They began as an organization helping families cope with kids returning from residential programs, and have expanded out to help families possibly prevent sending their kids away. I only knew about them after my child went away, but we worked for a year with Alex while my child was in treatment, and Coyote Coast helped smooth they way for my child's transition home. I wish you all the luck. You're doing a good thing for your child and for your family. It's hard as all get out, this work, and I hope that you can get the help you and your family need. Take care.

    Jul 18, 2022

    Hi there, 
    As a formerly out of control teenager who was doing everything your daughter is that you mentioned in your post, I sympathize with what you're going through. I was in an outpatient program three times during my high school years. I'm fortunate in that I got sober by the time I was 26 and still am to this day (9+ years). Al-Anon or Nar-Anon may be a starting place where you can take care of your own emotional health while connecting with others who have been in the same position. They can offer you support and guidance in the right direction, especially if you attend local meetings. I would be happy to connect offline if you have questions. Sending my best. 

    Jul 20, 2022

  • IEP helping pay for therapeutic boarding school

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    Aug 26, 2019

    We are at a loss with a 14 year old who really hasn't been able to attend public school since last year. The school did an evaluation and assigned an IEP for 'emotional disturbance' and after a long round of treatment we enrolled in 9th grade and sadly didn't make it two weeks before the self harm and suicidal thoughts came back. Was admitted to the hospital but will come out soon and we'll be looking at therapeutic boarding schools to help get through the next year or so. I've been told the IEP might help defray some of the cost. Is this true? What are the next steps from someone who has been through this before? Is it worth pursuing getting the district to help pay (I don't want to spend weeks/months to recoup $500...)?  We live in Contra Costa County, if that matters.

    Aug 26, 2019

    My son has/had an IEP and this did nothing to help with paying for a therapeutic boarding school.  Your first step should be consulting a Educational Consultant to help you on this journey. 

    Sep 2, 2019

    Hi I'm so sorry that your child is having difficulties.  I know that you are asking a different question but my son went through very difficult school times and was helped very much by the partial hospitalization program and intensive outpatient program at Alta Bates https://www.sutterhealth.org/absmc/services/behavioral-health/partial-hospitalization-intensive-outpatient

    It takes time to get in the program but I highly recommend it.

    Melissa

    Sep 2, 2019

    You should contact Wind in the Willows support group. They have meetings around the Bay Area and help families with navigating these things. https://willowsinthewind.wixsite.com/willowsinthewind

    We may end up in the same position and apparently you can get the District to pay but it’s work. They also have specific schools the State certifies and is more likely to pay for. Good luck! 

    Sep 2, 2019

    So sorry to hear this. It’s so hard to see your child suffer. I’ve got years of experience in this  area for my my child has behavioral problems. We went the therapeutic school route( boarding and day) and this was achieved only because has has Medi-Cal (he’s a former foster child). This was 5 years ago and it made a difference, plus a good therapist  He has had an IEP for some time and it’s hit or miss with out district. The District should provide supports such as a counseling, therapists, classroom aids to help them succeed. Goals need to be measurable and services must be provided. If the services aren’t provided as written in the IEP then you will need meet and meet and meet with them until they are. If still the IEP is not followed then seek help from an educational rights attorney. Getting a district to pay for outside School placement is hard. It will take time. You will need to show/prove that they can’t provide a fare and appropriate education in the district.  For help with the IEO contact DREDF in Berkeley. For info on treatment facilities, contact Willow in the Wind, a support group of parents . People attend who are seeking info on therapeutic placement,  have kids in such schools, or a transitioning out of residential placement. I found it helpful to attend.  In closing, know that an IEP alone won’t get you an independent placement. You need proof and then the right advocate to push for you.  Good luck and be strong. 

    Sep 2, 2019

    I’m so sorry you’re going through this.

    Yes, in some cases a school district will place a kid in a therapeutic boarding and pay for it as part of an IEP for emotional disturbance.  I would call DREDF (you can google them for the number) for a free consultation. You could also pay a couple hundred bucks for an hour-long consultation with an attorney. I highly recommend Deborah Jacobsen. 

    Sep 3, 2019

    Hi, I am so sorry you are going through this, trying to care for a child at risk when you are not a mental health professional is the scariest experience for a parent. Have you reached out to Willows in the Wind, a free support group for parents considering RTC/Wilderness or are currently facing crisis? Or to DREDF, a free organization that has trainings and information about Educational Law and rights? Your child has a disability and is not able to access their education, which encompasses the social/emotional realm as well as the academics. Your District is required to address the disability with a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). 

    To respond to your questions based on personal experience, you are already on  the most effective best path to reaching an IEP agreement for placement at a Residential Treatment Center to meet FAPE since you already have a District-specified qualifying disability of Emotional Disturbance. Yes I would highly recommend an Educational Attorney, we used Deborah Jacobson in Berkeley and she is truly magical. It may take months of IEP to recoup, but we are talking about recouping potentially $500K, not $500.

    I would recommend getting a copy of the facility spreadsheet and start screening RTC's now and get an Educational Attorney on board. You do have an option to do what is called a "unilateral placement", which means to give your District 10 days notice that you are placing your child at an RTC urgently now and will work out the details with the IEP team, all the way through Due Process if neccessary, later. You will need to be able to float about $15,000 per month for treatment. I had my credit limit increased to $200K and played a shell game for quite some time until we settled confidentially with our District. Some District are more difficult to work with and have a hard time being compliant with the law and treating families with respect and not blaming the "home environment". Other Districts may offer RTC as FAPE up-front with not much battle. But as I said, since you already have the education disability identified as ED, you are most of the way there and there's not much to battle about.

    A good way to get quickly introduced to Education Law is through an amazing organization called DREDF. There are free training classes and advice.

    Best wishes on this journey. We survived emotionally and financially (thanks to Willows in the Wind and our attorney), my son is alive (thanks to Heritage RTC in Provo, Utah), and is now more than 1 year home after 3 months of hospitalization and 3 years of RTC and is doing "good enough" (thanks to my son and his amazing recovery and resiliency)!.

    Sep 3, 2019

    Willows in the Wind is a terrific resource for support around issues like this (https://willowsinthewind.wixsite.com/willowsinthewind/support-groups#!)

    Consider attending a meeting and speaking with the folks there.

    Sep 3, 2019

    Get in touch with Willows in the Winds. They run groups for parents  and  can help guide you in requesting assistance from school district. My understanding is that therapeutic boarding schools or Residential treatment centers cost about $10k a month, so you are looking at much more than $500 if they will cover some of it. Definitely worth it in my opinion.

    Sep 3, 2019

    I'm adding more, another consideration could be a NPS (non-public school) funded through the IEP FAPE, which is a "less restrictive environment" than a RTC.Personally I hate that legal term "less restrictive" as to me it seems like a description of a punitive setting, it really just means "less supports in place". For some kids, just getting to a smaller more supportive environment with other students that understand the struggle can be a therapeutic setting.

    The NPS my son attended after RTC, Bayhill in Berkeley, had therapy built in to the day. He learned coping tools at RTC but needed a safe place to implement them before transitioning back to public school and the increased support when he first returned home after being in treatment for 3 years.. 

    Also check through BPN posts from the past about Willows, TBS, RTC, etc.

    Best wishes

    Sep 4, 2019

    I was able to have the school district my grandson was in pay for him to go to a therapeutic boarding school in Utah. The school district failed to provide him with an appropriate education setting for two years. I hired an attorney and after quite a bit of time and out of pocket money spent he was placed in the appropriate therapeutic setting, completely at the expense of the school district, including travel expenses for him and his parents, and reimbursement for the money spent on attorney fees, outside psychological testing, short term placement in a private school and mileage. You have to be very strong, research educational law and not back down. Document everything and save all emails, messages, etc. 

    Sep 4, 2019

  • Getting insurance to approve duration of stay needed at an RTC?

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    Aug 22, 2018

    Hi:

    My 13 year old is at Newport Academy in Orange, Ca. She has generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation. The program is giving her respite from our dysfunction while we try and learn how to be more emotionally supportive and calm and she learns skills for coping. We are making lots of progress but when she seems better I start to worry that insurance will want a discharge rather than see stabilization all the way through. A parent mentioned on a previous thread that she knew some ways to get insurance to pay and prevent going through the outpatient to inpatient to RTC cycle again and again. I’m hoping I can find that knowledable parent and get some advice. Having a suicidal teen is scary. I just want her to be safe and happy.

    thanks! 

    Aug 22, 2018

    Hi and so sorry you are going through this. We sadly cycled through 14 consecutive admissions over 3 months through our health insurance and our son had no education piece included at all, nor was any of the treatment effective in reducing his very serious symptoms. Through an education attorney, we used the school district route to place in a RTC in Utah and had a side-agreement with our insurance to cover "mental health services" while he was at the RTC. 

    In terms of getting insurance to step in and step up, you need to read through the details of your benefits plan, document all denials for service, and formally file a grievance while notifying the California Dept of Managed Health Care. For our insurance, mental health services were pretty well disguised in our benefits plan and took some clever searching. One detail that helped us was having the various providers (contractors of our insurance that ran the various in-patient programs he was transferred to non-stop), write letters recommending RTC.

    Advice for while you are in-paitent, be sure to make every meeting and respond to every request from the service providers so that they don't document that you are not open to the treatment plan, unfortunately this includes the 3am phone calls from service staff. As soon as possible, get copies of admission, treatment plan, and discharge summary documents for each admission, including the 5150's. Stay calm (yeah right!) and take care of yourself. Be aware that a DCFS (CPS) investigation may be initiated and be sure to warn any other family members, including siblings, that there may be an investigation and what that means, and that they have rights to not be questioned by authorities without someone else being present (or if a minor can politely decline and say that parents don't allow it). Call all schools and places of work and be sure to get in writing that you require a trusted adult to be present when there is questioning done by authorities.

    Willows in the Wind is a great local support group that has experience helping families with kids in RTC's or considering other placements and services. I was quite lost in the emotional and financial devastation of trying to work my way through my son's mental health crisis before I found out about Willows in the Wind. 

    Hang in there and know you are saving your child's life. Best wishes and kind thoughts.  

    Aug 27, 2018

    Ask for the Treatment Plan that the program has formulated for your daughter.  Insist that the facility adds goals that you would like to be on it, in order to be assured that your daughter is on the road to recovery. They cannot discharge her until she has completed her treatment goals.  So give your input to make the goals realistic enough to allow her to live safely at home with support.  

    If they decide that she is healthy enough to come home, but you don't agree, you can write a letter describing why you believe that she needs further treatment (be specific, especially emphasizing safety).  That has to go to a treatment review panel and they often err on the side of patient safety and continue treatment.  Treatment has to continue until the review panel is able to give you a decision.

    Sep 3, 2018

    Hello,

    I'm wondering, since she is at Newport, if substance abuse is part of the problem?  If so, I wanted to let you know that there is a very intensive IOP in Pt Richmond that would be a good "step down" back into the community.  It is full day and includes on site academics, psychiatry, substance abuse counseling, individual, family and multi family therapy, adventure therapy, linkage to Young Peoples AA.  It's Contra Costa County (no cost for any/ no insurance). It's called CORE (Center for Recovery & Empowerment).  It's for Contra Costa adolescents w/ SUD & associated mental health disorders. 

    Sep 25, 2018

  • Insurance is denying continued residential treatment for severely depressed 14yo

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    Jun 8, 2018

    Hi, I am the parent of a 14 yo girl who struggles with terrible depression. She has been placed under 5150 several times in the past four months and is currently under residential treatment--however, our insurance is denying the treatment center's request to keep her there (although they are very clear that she is not safe to go home) and we are panicked and trying to figure out what next steps are. I've been reading this forum and it sounds like we may need to engage an educational consultant to help us navigate this process--bring her home? Get an IEP? Wilderness program?? I have no idea... But we have already spent thousands and thousands of dollars on her treatment and honestly I'm not sure where the money will come from for whatever comes next. Can anyone give me a ballpark on what an educational consultant costs?

    Jun 8, 2018

    I lived through this exact experience with my 14 year-old daughter.  It is horrible.  You have to get your insurance company to let her stay. It's insane:  they kick her out of residential treatment, she attempts suicide, goes back to ER, back to residential, leaves before she's ready, until, I guess, she succeeds at suicide. If she's suicidal, you can't have her at home because you can't watch her 24 hours/day.  She needs to be in a residential facility.  I can share with you how I got the insurance company to keep her in residential.  Please ask the moderator for my contact info. Also, contact Willows in the Wind. They are a great resource and helped me find an educational consultant.  

    Don't lose hope!  My kid got through this and is now 18, just finished freshman year in an out-of-state college, is thriving.  

    Jun 11, 2018

    We had to give a $5K down payment for services then a % placement fee if we ended up placing her in a camp/facility/school. We ended up working it out at home by ramping up meds in the short term to stabilize, taking time off to monitor her fulltime at home (we also put an alarm on her door / taking anything away she could use to hurt herself), then going to DBT (Clearwater in Oakland). My greatest desire was to have my daughter stay home with us.  To do this, we (parents/family) had to change our tune big time to make things work.  DBT trained us to deal with ourselves and my lovely daughter magnificently. Volunteering with my daughter 4 hours a week helped tremendously too.  She loves animals so we ended up volunteering at the SPCA.  After a wild and bumpy ride, I'm forever grateful to have my daughter happy and safe at home with us 2 years later.

    Jun 11, 2018

    I’m so sorry you are dealing with this. My heart goes out to you and your daughter. 

    One area you may want to start with is speaking with the school psychologist and principal to explain the situation and take them as a partner and resource. They could assess for a 504 plan for accommodations or an IEP if there is an underlying disability that is a root cause of her depression. An educational consultant might not be necessary (and an added expense).

    I hope you find the support that you need to guide your daughter through this difficult time.

    Jun 11, 2018

    I've been in this emotional and financial hell for more than 3 years, starting with hospitalizations, 5150's, local treatment centers and step-downs, PHP, IOP, and more than two years of out of state RTC. With time, tenacity, legal assistance, DREDF, and Willows in the Wind I have made it through the financial hell. The emotional hell remains, I guess for always.

    Connect with Willows in the Wind and DREDF as a first step. Also get a copy of your statement of benefits/coverage from your health insurance, in electronic format is best. Get and keep the WRITTEN justification for treatment from the professionals. Learn what your recourse for disputes is with your insurer and look up the California Dept of Managed Health Care.

    Hope we can connect through Willows.

    Hang in there. It's awful, but can work out.

    Jun 11, 2018

    I'm very sorry to hear about the struggles you're going through with your daughter. You mentioned the insurance company is denying additional treatment: this might be a really good time to speak with an Insurance Advocate. This can save you thousands of dollars later AND help you to get appropriate services. Karen Fessel of the Mental Health and Autism Insurance Project is a good place to start: 925-388-0892 or info [at] autismhealth.org. You can speak with Karen for the first 30 minutes for free. She has a sliding scale fee of $75-$150. Karen can help anyone who is working with an insurance company--not just parents of children with autism. 

    To the best of my knowledge, Ed Consultant fees currently range between $5,000-$15,000 for a package of services. You might not be ready to commit to the whole process of finding a higher level of care for your daughter yet--the "package"--and if this case, it doesn't hurt to ask if you can arrangement an initial hourly consultancy fee (hourly or a mini consultation of $1,500-$3,000). Some Ed Consultants that you may have heard of:  Jen Taylor    Jennifer [at] jetedconsulting.com      415-887-8998Shayna Abraham   shayna [at] preparetobloom.com  (650)888-4575

    It does sound like you will need an IEP moving forward and possibly a neuropsychological evaluation if you don't already have one. In my experience, district assessments are often not very comprehensive--and it can be very helpful to get one of your own in order to get a clearer picture of what's going on with your daughter. Always check with your insurance company first to see if they will help you get the evaluation done. Summer time is a popular time to get a neuropsychological evaluation, so you may need to get on someone's waiting list if you decide to do this on your own. Hopefully other parents on this list will mention places to go for the neuropsych eval. You mentioned not being sure where the money will come from: a cheaper route for a neuropsychological eval is to contact UC Berkeley's psychology department. They have grad students who do them under supervision, and I've heard they can be very well done.  

    I don't have the name offhand, but I've also seen the name of a therapist on Solano Ave that advocates keeping your child at home and has some expertise in this area. I wish I could find her name! First name might have been Terry?

    I volunteer with a parent-to-parent program that offers free monthly support groups for parents called Willows in the Wind. You may already have heard of this group or attended a meeting in Oakland, San Rafael or Los Altos. Upcoming Willows meetings are listed at the bottom of this message. If you want more information, please feel free to contact me at: s.mackaylynch [at] gmail.com or contact the director, Jan Rao at: jrao [at] willowsinthewind.com

    Everybody's path is different. I hope that you'll find what works for your daughter and your family.

    Willows Oakland Meeting: Saturday,  June 16, 2018, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Kaiser Medical Building, 3600 Broadway, Lower Level, Conference Room C, Oakland

    San Rafael Willows Meeting: Sunday, June 24 , 2018, 1:00 - 3:00 PM, Center for Families, 1104 Lincoln Avenue, San Rafael

    Jun 11, 2018

    I'm sorry for your daughter's suffering. I can not directly answer your question about costs as it was some time ago that I hired an educational consultant for my teen.  I have two suggestions for you:

    1. Call The Bodin Group in Los Altos (http://www.thebodingroup.com).  They can give you pricing over the phone.

    2. Consider reaching out to Willows in the Wind (http://willowsinthewind.wixsite.com/willowsinthewind).  They provide support for parents going through what you are going through free of charge, and are an excellent resource in the community.

    Know you are not alone.

    Jun 11, 2018

    Dear Concerned Mom,

    I do not know of any resources here in bay area, however, I do want to encourage an IEP, typically given through school district, I would start there. Our daughter struggled with severe depression & self-harm at this same age for several years, she is now a thriving, talented young lady entering her sophomore year of college. She went through several residential treatments, Dr's & therapists. I recommend Timberline Knolls in Lemont Illinois, they offer schooling, it is one of the best. I know your heartache, stay the course, it does get better. I am from Chicago suburbs and was very fortune our district had resources to help. I am now in bay area. My hope is wellness & health, I am praying for your family.

    Love & Peace

    Jun 11, 2018

    I'm so sorry for your struggles. It is so hard to watch our children experience so much pain and not be able to help. Mental health services are so underfunded by health insurance! We have had good advice from Shayna Abraham, owner of Prepare to Bloom, who works with teens to find placements that are appropriate for them. https://www.preparetobloom.com/. She develops relationships with many services across the nation and knows their advantages specific for particular needs. She was able to help us get placement in a program that normally has a more rigorous process and waiting list. But because they know Shayna, her recommendation helped us cut through all of that. If it is a location away from home, she will check in regularly with them when she visits. Of course any ongoing services include a fee. If you are overwhelmed and need an advocate, she would be perfect. I think she would be happy to talk with you about costs and levels of service initially without a fee. We found her through our psychologist and our school. Good luck to you!

    Jun 18, 2018

Archived Q&A and Reviews

Questions

Alternatives when insurance won't pay

May 2016

RE: RTC for daughter with Conduct Disorder and Substance Abuse

Thank you to all who replied to my query, I appreciate your understanding and compassion. We've decided to move on from this idea for several reasons: a) Can't afford it at all (can't even afford a consultant or interventionist); b) insurance - we've asked and prodded and gotten our healthcare advocate involved, but Blue Cross won't chip in any money for this (but they will give us a couple of weeks of inpatient rehab); c) Risk of elopement - I wouldn't put my daughter anywhere where she'd be chained/locked in anyway, so given what we know from extensive testing and therapy, she would most likely run away. So we are continuing to work with a great local psychiatrist, are looking into rehab options (and making the insurance pay for that as much as possible), and are also looking into alternative public school programs for 12th grade next school year.

Will BUSD help pay for therapeutic boarding school?

Jan 2016

Our 15-year old daughter has dropped out of Berkeley High School due to anxiety, severe depression, suicidal ideation and other related issues. After two years of seeking local (excellent) therapeutic solutions for our daughter and family, we are finally sending her to a therapeutic boarding school. It has been chosen for it's humane approach and targeted therapeutic offerings. Our daughter was relieved when her neuropsych evaluation recommended that she spend a year in treatment away from home, so please do not reply if your opinion is that a teen should never be sent to therapeutic boarding school--with all due respect, I have already read those posts.

Our question is: Has anyone in a similar situation ever had any success in getting BUSD to help pay for therapeutic boarding school? Or tried and failed? We know that school districts are under a mandate to provide access to education. Given her issues, our daughter would not be an appropriate candidate for BUSD independent study program--at least until she has been in treatment for awhile. I should add that unfortunately, we do not yet have an IEP for our daughter yet. We have the name of a good educational advocate and a lawyer (based in the Walnut Creek area) and are already working with an excellent educational consultant. We are also members of Willows in the Wind (support group). However, before we seriously consider approaching the district, we would like to hear about other parents' experience with BUSD. Also, if you were successful in working with BUSD and would be willing to share the name of your educational advocate/lawyer, that would be great. I tried to research this issue on BPN but couldn't find anything (search error?) Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

Seeking access to education

Mike Zatopa is the attorney we (successfully) used with BUSD. We had a very complicated case. He would be able to give you an idea of whether you had a case. Typically, the school district likes to use their own resources before recommending residential care. If you have already decided upon that path it may be harder but I would still go ahead and ask. anon

Dear parent looking for therapeutic boarding school. I was able to get BUSD to pay for what is called a ''Non-public school''. These are schools/therapeutic treatment centers that partner with school districts to provide services of just the sort you describe: Helping children who cannot otherwise attend school for psychological, addiction, or other related issues.

You will need to get an IEP and will need to get a recommendation that she attend such a school. The process can be tedious. You MUST ask for an IEP in writing and you must do everything in writing. You must advocate strongly that she needs this (not the silly independent study or other options they will recommend).

You are unlikely to be able to send her to an out of state private boarding school -- and you might be glad of that. Some of those are quite abusive and hardly regulated. I would be very careful about sending a child to any of those. Check it out first.

The IEP process will take time - so start immediately and follow up at every turn. make sure they follow guidelines about when they will complete assessments, hold meetings etc. but each time they usually get 50 business days so it can really add up.

Best of luck to you and your daughter.... Been there

My step son went to a therapeutic boarding school within the Tamalpais Unified School District (Mill Valley) and they almost laughed when we asked. I don't think school districts pay for any portion of TBS. Good luck.
broke

I just placed my son last week, different school district but can sure help you out with what I have learned during this nightmare. Ask the moderator for my contact information. And just a warning, I have NEVER had my heart torn apart like this, and I have been through a lot. A friend who has helped me through this process told me the tears I cried through some 12 years of anguish were just practice for the devastating sorrow and shame of having no other options than residential placement. I sobbed for days. Still hasn't stopped. If anyone is being less than supportive, seek help elsewhere. Hang in there. Sue