Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families
The division provides a continuum of behavioral health, prevention, early intervention and treatment services. For information on eligibility for these services, click on the tabs below.
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The Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program (PSSF) is a community-based family support and preservation program which provides consultation services to families who are “at risk or in crisis” due to one or a combination of stressors that may lead to child maltreatment. These services are provided statewide.
The Delaware Family and Fatherhood Coalition (DFFC) is an extension of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program. DFFC fatherhood initiative is a shared collaborative addressing responsible fatherhood and healthy adult relationships as it pertains to effective co-parenting. The coalition connects multiple sectors of the community in a comprehensive approach, continuously develops partners, providing training opportunity to infusion fatherhood service into existing children and family services.
HHCAP helps families build healthy family relationships, strengthen caregiver skills, and promote positive behavior in children. The program is designed to prevent child maltreatment by increasing protective factors and promoting resilience in high-risk families living in high-risk communities.
Intensive Family Consultation (IFC) is a short-term, community-based Family Preservation /Family Support service that uses an interactive ‘one on one’ consultation prevention approach. IFC is strength-based, building upon family protective factors to reduce risk and combat negative outcomes.
IFC provides supportive services to at-risk families experiencing a range of challenges. Services are available to families with at least one minor residing in the home, and a caregiver who can provide informed consent for treatment. IFC may serve any family with children who could benefit from consultation and connection to a variety of resources, including families new to the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families (DSCYF) or those with more complex needs already involved with other child-serving systems.
Families served may face parent-child conflict, substance misuse, family instability (such as homelessness, single-parent or blended family stressors), social isolation, unresolved mental health needs, and limited access to support and resources. IFC follows System of Care principles, providing services that are culturally responsive, child-centered, family-focused, community-based, and coordinated to ensure seamless support.
Goals of IFC Services:
*IFC Services are provided statewide by the DPBHS staff.
For more information or an updated list of service providers, please contact our Prevention Helpline at: 302-633-2680 (during regular business hours) or email our prevention mailbox at:
PBHS_Prevention_Inquiries@delaware.gov
Or contact:
Neyssa Sealy, Clinical Behavioral Health Supervisor Neyssa.Sealy@Delaware.gov.
Click here to download the IFC Referral Form.
Delaware mandates divorcing parents with children up to age 17 to attend a parenting education course. The goal of these courses is to educate parents of the effects of divorce/separation on children and to help both parents minimize the harmful effects of divorce on their children, whenever possible. DPBHS certifies providers of these courses. In-person and online courses offered.
The Substance Abuse Block Grant (SABG) allows DPBHS to contract with community partners to offer evidence-based substance misuse prevention strategies in community centers, schools, and other youth-serving organizations. <3>After School Program
DPBHS funds several after school and summer programs throughout the state. This includes funding to extend the operating hours of select community centers in the City of Wilmington to provide youth more time in safe, structured, activities that promote positive social connection.
The City of Wilmington’s Youth Response Unit (YRU) is a collaboration with the Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services. The unit is comprised of specially trained, qualified therapists working in partnership with the Wilmington Police Department’s (WPD) officers and Victims Services Unit. The purpose of this unit is to identify children who have been impacted by violence and trauma and intervene as quickly as possible to promote resiliency and healing. In addition to individualized trauma response and treatment, YRU offers education, support and resources to children, families and the community as they cope with varying forms of trauma.
The Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services (DPBHS) provides a statewide range of voluntary mental health, substance abuse treatment and prevention services for children and youth, under the age of 18.
We provide varying levels and degrees of services depending upon the child’s needs. Our services are child centered and family focused.
The following are brief descriptions of the services offered by DPBHS to children and youth. For more detailed information, please call the DPBHS Information and Referral Unit weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 302-633-2571 or 1-800-722-7710 or email at: DSCYF_Intake_General@delaware.gov).
Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants address school readiness for young children. The Division offers Early Childhood Mental Health Consultations as a free service and partnership with Delaware early childhood education programs with a focus on children 2-5 years of age. All consultants are licensed mental health professionals with experience working in early child hood settings. Contact your early childhood center to find out if this service is available.
Family Based Mental Health Services (FBMHS) is an Evidence Based Practice model designed to service children between 3 and 17 years of age and their families (parents, guardians, caretakers and siblings). These children have a serious mental illness or emotional disturbance and are at risk for out-of-home placement into residential treatment facilities, psychiatric hospitals or other settings. The focus of treatment is on the child and family system. Family Based Mental Health Services treat these children and adolescents in their homes, communities and schools thus allowing the youth to remain in the home. Services are available 24 hours per day and 7 days a week via on call therapist and include crisis intervention as a part of the service.
Trained Family Support Providers (FSPs) have lived experience as parents or caregivers of a child with mental or behavioral health challenges. FSPs can help your family to navigate the mental health system and to learn how to be a positive advocate for your child. FSPs are available to you for one to two hours per week to provide support and resources and even to advocate with you at meetings such as IEPs, therapy appointments and psychiatrist visits.
Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is an Evidence Based Practice model designed to serve children ages 11-17. FFT is a short-term, family-focused, community-based treatment for youth who are either “at risk” for, or who manifest, antisocial behavioral problems such as conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, disruptive behavior disorder, violent acting-out and substance abuse disorders. Co-morbid behavioral or emotional problems, such as anxiety or depression, may also exist as well as family problems, such as communication and conflict issues. FFT has been applied to a wide range of families with at-risk, pre-adolescent and adolescent youth in various multi-ethnic, multicultural contexts. Interventions are primarily conducted at home but may occur in school or outpatient settings and at times of transition, from a residential placement.
Inpatient Hospital Treatment is provided for children who are suicidal, self-injurious, and/or a danger to others due to a psychiatric condition. These children are hospitalized in an inpatient setting to provide safety and a twenty-four hour treatment setting under the direction of a physician. Treatment is used primarily for acute crisis resolution to address behavior and symptoms which cannot be addressed at other less restrictive levels of care. When the acute crisis is resolved, the client should continue treatment in a less restrictive setting. Inpatient Hospital Treatment services include:
When a family is in the midst of an emotionally charged situation involving a child who is struggling emotionally or behaviorally, it can be hard to decide what to do and how to calm things down. Our Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) are here to help. MRSS is available to address the needs of children through age 17 and their families anytime, day or night, including weekends and holidays. Family members and other concerned people can access MRSS by calling 1-800-969-HELP.
We expanded how we define a crisis to meet the needs of young Delawareans and their families. This approach will make it easier for children and families to get help when they need it to defuse situations that affect family functioning. MRSS provides timely assistance that assesses risk/safety and works collaboratively with children and families to identify their needs, strengthen their support network, and make connections to community resources.
The goals of our Mobile Response and Stabilization Services are to
DPBHS has contracted with Delaware Guidance Services to deliver mobile response and stabilization services throughout the State.
Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is an Evidence Based Practice model designed to serve children ages 12-17. MST is a home-based intensive family and community-based treatment that addresses multiple aspects of serious conduct related behavior in adolescents. MST typically targets chronic, aggressive youth who are at high risk of out-of-home placement. MST recognizes that many “systems” (family, schools, neighborhood/community, peers) play a critical role in a youth’s world and impacts their behavior. Each system requires attention when effective change is needed to improve the quality of life for youth and their families.
Outpatient Services for Mental Health and Substance Abuse offer individual and family assessment; psychiatric and psychological services; individual, group, and family counseling; consultation to other child-serving agencies and case management.
This is a direct service in which the therapist meets with the child, siblings and/or the parents or legal guardians to plan for treatment and work toward achievement of the goals stipulated in the client’s treatment plan. This is one of the least restrictive (or controlled surroundings) of the mental health service levels.
Partial Hospitalization/Day Hospital treatment services provide support and psychiatric services five days per week to clients living at home or in other residential settings. This level of care is used for clients with severe, complex, or chronic psychiatric disorders requiring high intensity psychiatric medical services.
Therapeutic Support for Families (TSF) is available to children under the age of 18. TSF provides psycho-educational, therapeutic and supportive services for parents/ caregivers and youth who are participating in treatment services from the Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services. TSF services are delivered in conjunction with other medically necessary treatment services. TSF services support the treatment goals identified in the youth and family’s treatment plan.
Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) are comprehensive rehabilitative services to aid and support youth in the development of daily living skills, interpersonal skills, and behavior management skills and to enable youth to learn about and manage symptoms and improve functioning and behavior due to behavioral health (MH, SA and co-occurring) disorders. Individual and group activities and programming must consist of services to develop skills in functional areas that interfere with the ability to live in the community; participate in educational activities; develop or maintain social relationships; or participate in social, interpersonal, recreational, or community activities. This service provides support and assistance to the client and the family to identify, adjust, and manage symptoms, enhance participation in group living and community activities; and, develop positive personal and interpersonal skills and behaviors to meet the youth’s developmental needs as impacted by his/her behavioral health issues. PRTFs must meet the requirements in §441.151 through 441.182 of the Code of Federal Regulations. DPBHS contracts with out of state PRTF providers when it is determined the child’s needs cannot be properly met by an in-state Residential Rehabilitative Service.
Residential Rehabilitative Services provides a 24-hour, supervised, residential living arrangement with intensive psychiatric services for children and adolescents with Mental Health and Substance Abuse disorders that impair their ability to be successful in community settings. Services will be delivered in a trauma informed environment in conjunction with other evidence based practices. The focus of treatment is to resolve the primary presenting problems that necessitated the youth’s need for this type of structured residential treatment service with the goal of safely returning a child to their natural home and school settings. Research shows improved outcomes with shorter length of stay, increased family involvement and stability and support in the post-residential environment (Walters & Petr, 2008).
Residential Services are available for all age groups.
The Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services operates two residential facilities:
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