Children Services

Sedgwick County > Human Services > COMCARE > Children Services

7701 E. Kellogg, Suite 300, Wichita, KS 67207
(316) 660-9600
(316) 660-9660 (Fax)
Contact: Jody Patterson, LCP, Director

COMCARE’s Children’s Services (CS) is a program that is dedicated to helping children with serious emotional disturbances (SED) live at home and remain involved in the community. This is achieved by assisting youth and their families in accessing the wraparound network of community services that are available in Sedgwick County.

Children’s Services is available to children under 18 years of age (up to 22 in certain circumstances) who have serious emotional and social problems that disrupt community, school and family relationships. These are children at risk for out-of-home placement or psychiatric hospitalization. Children who meet the criteria for serious emotional disturbance can be referred to CS by a family member, physician, therapist, psychologist, teacher, school counselor, or other concerned person. The initial screening to determine CS eligibility is completed by COMCARE’s Intake and Assessment Center. Fees for Children’s Services are based on a sliding scale set by the family’s level of earned income. Medicaid and some health insurances are accepted.

Case Management

Case Management, a community based service program, plays a fundamental and critical role in the treatment of children with serious emotional disturbances. The case manager coordinates any services that are needed to help the child remain in the home. A case manager also assists the family in developing the treatment plan in conjunction with the treatment team. In addition, the case manager provides direct care to the child assisting them to reach their treatment goals through a service referred to as Community Supportive Psychiatric Treatment.

The role of the Children’s Services Case Manager is to:

Help the family recognize their own strengths and use these strengths to reach their goals.
Teach family members how to make their own decisions while getting the help they need from community agencies.
Work with the child and family through role-modeling, counseling, and service activities while developing close relationships with all family members.

Therapy Clinic

Individual and Family therapy is also available at COMCARE Children’s Services. Therapists can assist the child and family to develop strategies to reduce symptoms, manage stress and improve behavior. All therapists at CS are licensed in the state of Kansas to provide psychotherapy.

Medical Services

A Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist is on staff to evaluate the need for medication, prescribe as necessary, and provide ongoing medication management for children and adolescents in this program. An Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) and a Registered Nurse (RN) support Medical Services.

Proud of Me Therapeutic Preschool: (Provided by COMCARE)

Proud of Me is a program for young children ages 2 ½ to 5 years old who have challenging behaviors at home, at preschool or child care, or in the community. The purpose of the program is to provide a supportive environment where children can develop and practice the social, emotional and behavioral skills needed to succeed in school, home and the community. Proud of Me is designed to work in conjunction with academically based preschools. Conscious Discipline by Dr. Becky Bailey is the foundation for the program interventions.

Attendant Care Services:

Attendant Care Services is provided on a one to one basis with a provider spending time with individual children and youth assisting them to reach their treatment goals. The primary focus of this service is to provide medically necessary maintenance and support to the child. The attendant care programming currently offered to children served by CS is provided via contracts with the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas and Behavioral Link.

Psychosocial Rehabilitation

Psychosocial rehabilitation is a community-based service provided by Children’s Services and through various contractors in the community. This service is provided to youth individually or in groups with a focus on reducing functional impairments related to the youth’s mental health diagnosis. Psychosocial Rehabilitation utilizes activities to assist the youth in achieving their treatment plan goals. Psychosocial Rehabilitation services are currently offered to children served by CS through contracts with the Mental Health Association of South Central Kansas, Behavioral Link and the Urban League.

Home and Community Based Services for Children with Serous Emotional Disturbance Waiver (HCBS/SED)

The HCBS/SED Waiver allows children who would otherwise need institutional care at a state mental health hospital, to access a state covered insurance plan. In addition, this insurance plan provides for an array of mental health services with a focus on assisting the youth to remain in their home, school and community. These services include: Parent Support Specialist, Community Psychiatric Supportive Treatment, Wraparound Facilitation, Psychosocial Rehabilitation, Respite Care, and Attendant Care.

Parent Support and Training (Provided by COMCARE and through a Contractual service through COMCARE’s business partners)

This program allows parent(s) of children with serious emotional disturbances (SED) to act as consultants and support to other parents. Parent Support Specialist work with families to procure services and may provide school advocacy, so as to meet needs of the family unit. Parents Support Specialist may also participate in treatment plans as family advocates.

Respite Care: (Provided by COMCARE)

Respite care is a planned, short term break for the child and family. This allows the child and family to have time apart while ensuring that the child’s needs are being met.

COMCARE
of Sedgwick County
First Appointment – 316-660-7540
24-Hour Crisis Intervention Services – 316-660-7500

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