Professional Partner Program

The purpose of the Professional Partner Program (PPP) is to assist families who have a child with server emotional disturbance (SED) in accessing services for the family without having to either give up their child as a ward of the state or incur undue debt to cover such services.

The wraparound philosophy is needs driven and based on the strengths of the family. The parents are in integral part of the team and act as equal partners based on the premise that parents know their children best. The team, chosen by the family, meets monthly to develop an individualized service plan based on the strengths and needs of the family. PPP promotes the least restrictive, least intrusive, developmentally appropriate, culturally competent interventions in accordance with the strengths and needs identified by the family and within the most normalized environment.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The young must be under the age of 21.
• The young must have a mental health disorder diagnosable under the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. If the youth does not have a diagnosis but symptoms indicate a mental health disorder and criteria A, C, D and E are met, the youth meets criteria.
• The condition must be persistent in that it has existed for one year or longer, or is likely to endure for one year or longer.
• The mental health disorder must result in functional impairments in tow or more of the following areas:
  

  A.	Self-Care at an appropriate development level,
  B.	Developmentally appropriate perception and expressive language,
  C.	Learning challenges, absenteeism, tardiness, suspensions/expulsions, disciplinary problems and failing classes,
  D.	Self-direction, including developmentally appropriate behavioral control, decision making, judgment and value systems.
  E.	Capacity for living in a family or family equivalent.

• Strong family and/or community commitment and participation is agreed to and demonstrated.