Anyone in PA and have wrap around services?

[tantrums]

My DS is 7. It's not really getting much better here since his original diagnosis. I'm also concerned that some of what started as or still is OCD/ADHD is just becoming behavior. Our therapist recommended wrap around services. Not sure if that is just a pennsylvania thing? Basically, we will have 16 hours a week in home behavioral support. I'm having a hard time getting the process started (I have to get medicaid for one thing despite having my own good insurance).

 

Or anyone else with in home behavioral help? Just wondering how you feel about it? I am a social worker so I "get" the system and dont necessarily feel terrible about people in the house (if they can help - pack em in!!) but DH doesn't seem too happy. I feel it's very important for the entire family dynamic to be seen and dealt with here. Also - our weekly counseling was pretty useless. DS would go in, play with her toys and act like a sweetie. I need someone to see it in live action and tell me what to do.

[AmySLP]

I live in NY and this service that you are talking about does not exist in that way. I am originally from PA (Northeast PA) where I worked as a TSS (Therapeutic Staff Support)the summer before I started grad school. We worked with kids with a variety of dx-PDD, ODD, ADHD/ADD etc. A behavioral therapist writes the "plan" and the TSS carry it out. I think the only thing I'd say is be sure to get someone experienced-Type of degree doesn't really matter for TSS, just a bachelors degree suffices (my cousin's son has had these services for a few years~she's had to fire several who barely spent time with kids before. She has a "keeper" now who has worked wonders with her son in the home and community). Her son also gets some support services from them in school. Although it's been some time, I felt that I had little direction in what to do for the kids I saw. My sister on the other hand had an undergrad psych degree~did this work for a few years before she went to grad school for her MSW. I'm sure she was much better prepared that I.

 

Seems like PA has had this service for some time-I did that 11 years ago. It is definitely a Medicaid service, not sure that any insurance would pay for it. That's what medicaid waiver is for-it's helped my cousin tremendously b/c it picked up all the co-pays/deductibles on her insurance and covered docs her primary insurance wouldn't. As long as the child has a qualifying diagnosis, irregardless of income, their in. I do remember tough that it takes time for the approval.

 

It can't hurt to try it out, but I'd imagine the application process for Medicaid Waiver is tedious.

 

Good Luck,

 

Amy

[PhillyPA]

The wrap around service has been a life-saver for me. My son became ill at age 5. He became autistic overnight. I got a TSS 6 months into his illness(PANDAS). You can use your TSS in anyway that you want. I wanted my TSS to go to school with him. She goes with him everyday and shadows him. I know that he is safe. If he needs help she is there. In the summer, she goes to camp with him. It is awesome! I never worry about his safety when he is away from me. His TSS is always with him. She does not come to our home because I don't need her at home. She did in the beginning but I didn't like it. It seemed like a waste of time. But - for school - it is well used hours. I get 32.5 hours a week. All the hours are used at school.

 

I love the service. The fact that it is free in PA is unbelievable. We are so lucky. It is Medicaid. I know you can use the card for other things such as co-pays that your insurance won't pay and a bunch of other stuff too but I never did. I only used it for the TSS service.