Therapeutic Services for Preschoolers
Therapeutic Services for Preschoolers (TSP)
TSP is as eight week program for young children who experience emotional difficulty. The program is to determine if the TSP case managers, under the supervision of Qualified Mental Health Professionals, feel that the children are at risk of being determined severely emotionally disturbed. The mission of the program is early intervention. Research shows that the best time to intervene in behavioral disturbances is EARLY.
Eight Week Program
The Eight Week Program is comprised of eight weeks of psychosocial group curriculum designed to teach your child skills while allowing the mental health professionals to assess your childŐs needs. Your child will attend three psychosocial groups each week that are based on the following topics:
- Feelings
- Understanding Anger
- Problem Solving
- Social Skills
One day a week the TSP case manager will visit your childŐs classroom to reinforce skills learned that week and to conference with the teacher. The TSP case manager will also meets with parents to inform you of your childŐs weekly behavior in the psychosocial group and to assist you in reinforcing new skills with your child
TSP Program Outcomes
At the end of the eight week period one of three outcomes will occur:
- Your child completes the program and the TSP case manager determines no further services are necessary.
- The TSP case manager refers your child for the regular case management services and introduces you to your new case manager.
- You and the TSP case manager decide to continue with other Area Mental Health services; therapy, medication checks.
How does my child get into TSP?
Children are referred to TSP by several means:
- School
- Daycare
- SRS
- Therapist
- Parent
Once the referral is made a TSP case manager will contact you to help you set up an intake at the Area Mental Health Center. The TSP case manager then meets with you and completes the TSP paperwork.
It is important that parentŐs understand that TSP case managers are employees of Area Mental Health Center. Your child will become a client of the Area Mental Health Center after the intake. Your child will be in case management for at least the first four weeks.
Some parents are a bit hesitant to bring their child to AMHC. They fear their child will be labeled. This is not the case. Mental Health is just that. There is no stigma involved in making sure your child receives all the services available to insure that he/she will grow to be a balanced, healthy, and happy individual.
TSP Program Expense
The fees for these services will be submitted to your insurance provider, Medicaid, or charged to you on a sliding scale that is based on your income.
TSP Case Managers
All TSP case managers are employees of Area Mental Health Center. All TSP case managers are trained by the State of Kansas as child case managers. All have received training in CPR and First Aid. These case managers have in-depth knowledge about child development, experience working with young children, and/or a degree in a human services field such as social work or psychology. The TSP case managers are supervised by MasterŐs Level Qualified Mental Health Professionals who have a background in child development as well as mental health.
Most importantly, these Area Mental Health Center employees ENJOY working with young children and their families!