FAM Monthly Newsletter

No one could argue that we live in a world that presents challenges we need to face almost on a daily basis. Especially foster parents, who must constantly adjust to changes that can make them feel alone and confused. Unfortunately, children and adolescents may have a more difficult time expressing their thoughts, needs and feelings than we do as adults. This difficulty often times can lead to behaviors that can be disconcerting and downright scary. Violent outbursts, suicidal and/or homicidal thoughts, emotional withdrawal are some behaviors that can accompany these difficulties for youth, and foster children are no exception. Where can one turn to for help?

The first line of defense will always be the child's case worker and/or their psychiatric services provider. However, when an emergency presents itself, foster parents (as well as other members of the community at large) have another option - an option available 24 hours a day.

One of the programs offered through Wellpath, a FAM partner, is Emergency Mobile Psychiatric Services (EMPS). The purpose of EMPS is to provide community-based rapid emergency crisis stabilization to children and families and to provide brief follow-up care to promote continued stabilization and linkage with ongoing supports and services within the community. Effective crisis intervention reduces the need for emergency department visits, police involvement and arrest, psychiatric hospitalization, and continued or repeated crisis intervention. Professional staff is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for intervention, counseling information and referral services to help with suicidal, behavioral and other violent threats, loss of control, and traumatic experiences. EMPS through Wellpath serves the 42 cities and towns within the Greater Waterbury, Danbury and Torrington areas of Connecticut (Northwest Region). EMPS Services are also available in the New Britain region of the state through Wheeler Clinic.

Both Wheeler Clinic and Wellpath report only limited use of their EMPS service by licensed foster and adoptive families, although recently, those numbers have increased due to outreach directly to families and social workers. FAM wants foster and adoptive families to know that EMPS can be a valuable tool for families and children who need quick support after agency offices close.

So, what would a response from EMPS look like? Between the hours of 8 a.m. (9a.m. for Wellpath) and 10 p.m., the hours a crisis is statistically most likely to occur, a call to EMPS would result in a home visit by a trained team. This team would evaluate the situation and make a determination of how to proceed. Once the evaluation is done the assigned clinician would work with the family until the case is handed over to the appropriate service (like IICAPS or FST) or mental health professional. If the call came in after 10 p.m., on-call staff would provide phone support and appropriate referral to either 911, a home visit the following morning, or other support as deemed necessary. Holiday support services are also available. In home support is covered from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. with telephone coverage for the remainder of the day.

To access EMPS, ANYONE can simply dial 2-1-1 toll free 24 hours a day. Any further non-emergent questions about the Wellpath EMPS program can be directed to Mark Augustine, LMFT who can be reached at (203) 756-7287 extension 224 or by e-mail at maugustine@wellpathct.org. Information regarding the Wheeler Clinic EMPS can be obtained by calling Sarah Becker at Wheeler Clinic at 860-793-3500.