Frequently Asked Questions

Please visit our Billing FAQ HERE.

To be eligible for case management services, children/adolescents must be Seriously Emotionally Disturbed (SED) with a defined serious mental illness, such as bipolar disorder or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and must exhibit at least one of the following:

• Have service needs that require more significant interventions over time
• Problems in personality development and social functioning for one year or more
• Problems that are increasing over time
• Significant problems in contrast to others of their age

Children under age 7 who are at-risk of SED must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Have caregivers with predisposing factors (such as a parent with a history of major mental illness) that could result in the child developing serious emotional or behavioral problems
• Have experienced physical or psychological stressors (such as abuse) that put them at risk of serious emotional problems
• Exhibit behavior or maturity that is significantly different from other children their age

Contact Us

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Medicaid, Comprehensive Services Act (CSA) funds secured through Family Assessment and Planning Teams (FAPT) in your county or private pay based on a sliding scale pay for the service. For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Yes. Any of the following may provide a referral to Intensive Outpatient Family Therapy Services: 

•  County Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT)
•  Court Services
•  Current Therapist
•  Department of Social Services
•  Intensive In-home Therapist
•  Psychiatric Hospital (Inpatient)
•  Residential Treatment Facility

Contact Us

For more information, call Rachel Teagle at 804-758-4035.

Three Rivers Healthy Families invites all expectant families to participate in a prenatal interview. Our staff highlights each available community resource for parenting support. Interview outcomes often result in referrals for services of identified needs. Participants also get an overview of what to expect from a particular service. For more information email Early Intervention Services.

Once RISP gets a referral, your child receives one or more of the following services, as needed, based on his or her individualized plan. Note that every child may not need all of these services.

Services offered:

• Assessment/Evaluation
• Consultation in specialty areas and for children with unique needs
• Developmental therapy (Infant education)
• Family support activities and links to other community services
• Lending library of materials and equipment
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Service coordination (Case management)
• Special training events
• Speech therapy
• Developmental screening

Contact Us

Email Early Intervention Services for more information.

Many children seem to learn everyday skills easily, including crawling, walking, talking, playing, and eating. Some children, however, need special help to learn these skills, and the RISP staff can help parents give their children that extra help. Working with children early in their lives is the best way to help reduce developmental delays and can sometimes prevent developmental problems. For young children with special needs, early intervention services are a very worthwhile investment in the future, offering many benefits as the child gets older.

Contact Us

Email Early Intervention Services for more information.

We help children from birth to three years old, including those born prematurely or with a medical problem that may cause developmental delays. All children will grow and learn - some quickly, some more slowly. Their families are central to fostering their development. We also help children who have a disability or who are having problems learning to:

• Eat
• Get along with others
• Play
• Talk
• Walk

Contact Us

Email Early Intervention Services for more information.

Our services aim to help families address areas of concern about their children. Each time we visit, we share information about how parents can help their child. We depend on parents to let us know how their child is doing and what is working best for both parent and child. Email Early Intervention Services for more information.

Since a child in day care typically responds best to familiar people in any setting, it would be most helpful for a day care provider to be actively involved in the RISP visits. This way, RISP staff and the child's care provider can work together to address the family's concerns, as well as any issues that have been noted in the day care setting. RISP visits are also a good time to try out different suggestions and to find out what works best for the child.

Creating a Routine in Daycare

Childcare is busy enough, so RISP staff members do not want to add to it by asking providers to create "therapy" time each day. Instead, RISP staff will show how to adapt some of the existing routines and activities using materials that are already in the day care setting to help encourage child development. Before beginning services in the day care setting, RISP staff will ask to meet with the care provider to make sure that our services will be helpful and feasible.

Contact Us

Email Early Intervention Services for more information.

Our referrals generally come from doctors, families, and from many agencies and programs in the community that work closely with us, such as:

• Child care
• Home health agencies
• Hospitals
• Public and private agencies interested in young children
• Public health
• Public schools
• Social services

Referral

Anyone who refers a child to RISP should obtain parental permission before making a referral.

Contact Us

Email Early Intervention Services for more information.

Young children learn best in their "natural environment," which is usually in their home or day care setting. RISP staff usually visits a child at home, and can also provide some services in the day care setting, if the parent and childcare provider are interested. Email Early Intervention Services for more information.

RISP receives funding from a variety of sources, including state and local dollars through the Community Services Board. RISP also receives funding from other state and local agencies, civic groups, individuals, and organizations.

Additional Funding

Additional funding comes from Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), so there is never a charge to a family for some services, such as a child's developmental screening, evaluation, plan development, or service coordination.

Insurance

RISP is licensed as an outpatient rehabilitation program and charges a fee for direct physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Most health insurance will cover part or all of the cost of these services.

Income Based Pay

If the cost of RISP services would be a hardship to any family, our agency can use a statewide sliding fee scale to reduce the charges to the family based on its income and need. No family is ever denied services because of inability to pay.

Contact Us

Email Early Intervention Services for more information.

Statistics are important, but they do not tell the whole story. They cannot measure the impact of a young child achieving a goal that his or her family did not even dare to dream would be possible: a toddler with cerebral palsy taking her first steps, a child with hearing impairment using sign language for the first time, or the smile of a baby who is blind when he recognizes his grandmother's face by touch. In addition to identifying specific goals for each child and measuring progress toward those goals, RISP continues to measure parent satisfaction with program components. 

Here is the impact that some families have told us about:

• "Our service coordinator was superb! She always took time to hear our concerns and sent us articles that would be helpful. She turned out to be a great friend and a valuable source of information."
• "We were given lots of helpful information each week. We are very grateful!"
• "With [my son's] hypertonia I thought my goals for him would be difficult to achieve, but everyone was and still is optimistic, and he has come a long way. He's moving his head a lot with a lot of control, he's playing with toys, he recognizes his sister, myself, and his dad. He loves to laugh. He's responding really well. He also knows when someone's coming to see him and I believe he loves them too."
• "RISP was wonderful in helping my grandson with his speech - [service coordinator] did a great job! She helped us through everything one needed. I am very pleased with all your staff. We were given all services needed and the workers were fantastic!"
• "I wanted to mention the extras that they do. My two girls are never left out when they come. Someone always has a toy or something for them to play with. And they include them in [my son's] therapy and always have a kind word for my kids, and I love the way they include them. But not only are they kind to my kids but to me as well, they are always asking me how I'm doing, if I'm taking care of myself and all, and it makes me feel special. When they show me a certain exercise to do with [my son] and I get it right, I feel so proud."
• "Having the visits at home let our daughter be more comfortable so she could participate fully in the therapy."
• "I was very scared when RISP first came to my home. Not only was my daughter my first child but she was severely handicapped. RISP helped me through my fears. RISP was very helpful finding the most appropriate equipment for my child when needed. Also with respite care they were very helpful, finding individuals who were interested in helping our family."
• "They helped me understand my child's conditions and helped me to take care of him better with a better understanding."
• "The staff always showed me what stretches, sounds, and activities would benefit my child most. They even helped suggest toys that would help him and make the exercises and different tasks easier. I participated in all of the home visits conducted by the RISP staff and I learned a lot from them."
• "My son loved working with [speech therapist and infant educator]. He finally learned to talk and now he talks about everything. As far as I'm concerned, they worked miracles!"

Three Rivers Healthy Families invites all expectant families to participate in a prenatal interview. Our staff highlights each available community resource for parenting support. Interview outcomes often result in referrals for services of identified needs. Participants also get an overview of what to expect from a particular service. For more information email Early Intervention Services.

The comprehensive home visits include parenting education and support for eligible prenatal families.

Family Support Worker

A family support worker assists parents with the increasing challenges that their new baby may bring. Families engage in a variety of activities during visits to develop their range of parenting skills. This program continues until the child enters their local Kindergarten program.

Parents may also learn how to manage their household, solve specific problems, and deal with unexpected situations. The family can increase their knowledge of child development and positive parent-child interactions. Parents receive guidance in developing the ability to access and utilize community resources based on individual needs. The family support worker encourages positive health behaviors during pregnancy to promote and advocate a healthy child.

Literacy Activities

To build a child's library and story time at home, each child receives a new age-appropriate book every three months. The goal is to place 30 books in the home of every child in the program. Literacy activities are shared during the home visits with the child and modeled for parents. Families are frequently transported to a "storytime" at their local library and personally contacted about attending special events to promote literacy.

Contact Us

Email Early Intervention Services for more information.

Three Rivers Healthy Families offers assessments for all children four months to five years of age. Initially, parents complete an assessment that identifies concerns about their child's development. Our family support worker then follows up with a plan based on the assessment outcome and parent's input. Email Early Intervention Services for more information.

• Teen Parent Group: A parenting program designed for teen parents is available as part of the Three Rivers Healthy Families Program. Teen parents explore the development of their child, discuss the challenges of children while attending school, and set goals for their future.
• Infant Massage: Infants and parents may select to benefit from the relaxing sessions conducted by a certified infant message instructor. Families enjoy the opportunity to strengthen their bond by spending time together.
• Parent Education and Support: Parents and other agencies may request parent education sessions through our staff. Sessions are personalized according to each participant's specific needs and topics of interest.

Contact Us

Email Early Intervention Services for more information.

The TRHF staff and Board have involved parents in a leadership role from TRHF's inception. Parent involvement is a vital component in preparing families to take a proactive role in addressing their needs as well as those of the community.

Board of Directors

The TRHF Board of Directors includes parents and involves additional parents for special projects with Board members. Parents enrolled in TRHF have participated in community presentations that target current funding sources and potential resources. In addition, parents have shared their views through written program articles and newspaper interviews to promote community awareness.

Contact Us

Email Early Intervention Services for more information.

Intensive in-home services consist of home-based and family-centered counseling for children/adolescents who are at risk of out-of-home placement due to their behaviors.

Services are intense and are provided from 3 to 10 hours per week to the child and family in their homes, schools, and sometimes at Middle Peninsula-Northern Neck Community Services Board (MPNNCSB) outpatient clinics or agencies in the community where the child and family are involved.

The child's residence, as the setting for the services, is more likely to be successful than a clinical setting.

Children who have mental, behavioral, or emotional illness, are at risk of out-of-home placement due to their clinical needs, and need services more intensive than outpatient clinic care are eligible if they also meet at least two of the following criteria:

• Exhibit difficulty in cognitive ability such that they are unable to recognize personal danger or significantly inappropriate social behavior. For example, a child who is acting out in such a fashion that there is risk of harm to herself/himself or to others
• Exhibit such inappropriate behavior that repeated interventions by mental health, social services, or judicial system are necessary
• Have difficulty in establishing or maintaining normal interpersonal relationships to a degree that they are at risk of hospitalization or out-of-home placement because of conflicts with family or community

Medicaid and Comprehensive Services Act (CSA) funds that are approved by the Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) and Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) pay for these services. 

Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance may need to be hospitalized. We work closely with the family to manage the child's symptomatic behavior without hospitalization, if possible, by implementing a structured plan to avoid a hospital stay. Therapists and supervisors are available 24/7 to monitor and assist. However, if a structured plan cannot be implemented with the parents and family, therapists arrange for prescreening with Middle Peninsula Northern Neck Community Services Board (MPNNCSB) staff and admission to a hospital.

Family and/or caretakers are often in the best position to identify triggers of crises within the home environment. Middle Peninsula Northern Neck Community Services Board (MPNNCSB) staff can often guide them to change patterns that may contribute to emergency situations. Parents or caretakers, assisted by MPNNCSB staff, can then make a significant systemic change that may ultimately reduce or potentially even eliminate the child's serious emotional and behavioral problems.

No, not directly. The following community members must provide referrals:

• Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) members
• Probation Officers
• School Counselors
• Social Workers
• Therapists

Children who need more frequent and intense therapy than outpatient treatment may be referred for these services, which are outpatient, clinic-based individual and family therapy. 

These services involve:

• Attendance at Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) meetings; active collaboration with all involved agencies and other providers as needed
• Clinical supervision provided weekly by a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Clinical Psychologist; supervision provided 24/7
• Crisis intervention services provided as needed on a 24/7 basis
• Individual and strategic family therapy, weekly or more often as needed, in the Gloucester Counseling Center, Warsaw Counseling Center or the Youth and Family Services office

Children who demonstrate any one of the following are eligible for services:

• Are being discharged from intensive in-home services to intensive outpatient services
• Are involved with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and need intensive outpatient treatment
• Have been referred for intensive in-home services and are awaiting those services
• At risk of out-of-home placement

Yes. Any of the following may provide a referral to Intensive Outpatient Family Therapy Services: 

•  County Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT)
•  Court Services
•  Current Therapist
•  Department of Social Services
•  Intensive In-home Therapist
•  Psychiatric Hospital (Inpatient)
•  Residential Treatment Facility

Contact Us

For more information, call Rachel Teagle at 804-758-4035.

Medicaid, third party payers (health insurance), CSA (Children's Services Act) funds, or client pay based on a sliding scale fund the service. For more information, call Emily Eanes at 804-758-4035.

For more information you can contact Rachel Teagle, M.S. at 804-758-4035.

Intensive care coordination (ICC) is a state-funded Comprehensive Services Act (CSA) program focused on reducing the time that children spend in residential treatment facilities. The intensive care coordinator works closely with the child in various residential facilities on becoming a viable candidate for discharge. At the same time, the intensive care coordinator also works closely with the family and community to help prepare for the child's return. ICC can also work with families and community partners to prevent residential placement.

If the child is placed in a residential facility, the coordinator visits the child at least twice monthly, helping the child to meet appropriate goals to ensure discharge from the facility.

The coordinator also works closely with the child’s natural supports and agencies (for example, family members, clergy, and others) within the community. A wrap-around treatment plan is established to bolster the child’s natural support network and to provide for a successful transition into the community. The coordinator also works closely with the Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT), as well as the case manager, to foster coordination between all agencies involved.

Third party payers (health insurance), CSA funds, or client pay based on a sliding scale fund the service.

The coordinator also works closely with the child's natural supports and agencies (for example, family members, clergy, and others) within the community. A wrap-around treatment plan is established to bolster the child's natural support network and to provide for a successful transition into the community. The coordinator also works closely with the Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT), as well as the case manager, to foster coordination between all agencies involved.

Any child currently in a residential treatment facility or deemed at risk of entering a residential treatment facility may, upon referral, be eligible for this service. The child must be "mandated" (that is, s/he must have an Individual Education Plan (IEP), or be in foster care or at risk of out-of-home placement) and referred through local Family Assistant Planning Teams (FAPT) and Community Policy and Management Teams (CPMTs) with approved Comprehensive Services Act (CSA) funds.

When might crisis stabilization services be needed? These services are most frequently employed when the child or adolescent needs an immediate clinical intervention in the least restrictive setting to lessen the impact of mental health dysfunction. Stabilization services are sometimes used as a "step down" program for those being discharged from psychiatric facilities and returning to the community.

Goal

The goal is to develop and restore adaptive, stable functioning within the home, school, and/or community.

Contact Us

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

The service consists of clinical personnel meeting daily with the child for up to 15 consecutive days and up to 8 hours per day.

Clinicians providing crisis stabilization teach positive coping skills. The goal is to instill a sense of hope by assisting the child and family in managing the crisis, while reducing the acute emotional distress of the child or adolescent, assuring safety for the child and others.

Contact Us

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Those eligible for crisis stabilization services include:

• Children and adolescents who are experiencing acute psychiatric distress with a marked decrease in psychiatric, adaptive or behavioral functioning
• Children and adolescents who are hospitalized or in other out-of-home placements pending return to the community

Referrals

The following may provide referrals for these services:

• Case Managers
• Emergency Services Staff
• Outpatient Therapists
• Psychiatric staff working in close collaboration with each other and the family

Contact Us

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Fees for the service are covered under most Medicaid plans; private payment may be arranged on an individual basis, including the use of a sliding fee scale. For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Case management services are provided to those children/adolescents with Serious Emotional Disturbances (SED) (and their families) who need multiple services that require referral and coordination among a variety of providers.

Case management services may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Meet with the child/adolescent, their family, and other professionals to advocate, support, and collaborate on the child's/adolescent's behalf by providing supportive guidance and/or telephone and face-to-face outreach
• Monitor progress through monthly contacts with the child/adolescent, families, and other involved service providers
• Provide referral to other service providers to obtain health care, housing, financial assistance, legal advice, etc.

Contact Us

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

To be eligible for case management services, children/adolescents must be Seriously Emotionally Disturbed (SED) with a defined serious mental illness, such as bipolar disorder or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and must exhibit at least one of the following:

• Have service needs that require more significant interventions over time
• Problems in personality development and social functioning for one year or more
• Problems that are increasing over time
• Significant problems in contrast to others of their age

Children under age 7 who are at-risk of SED must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Have caregivers with predisposing factors (such as a parent with a history of major mental illness) that could result in the child developing serious emotional or behavioral problems
• Have experienced physical or psychological stressors (such as abuse) that put them at risk of serious emotional problems
• Exhibit behavior or maturity that is significantly different from other children their age

Contact Us

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Case management services assist children who are Seriously Emotionally Disturbed and their families in practical areas of daily living. For example, case managers may act as a liaison to other agency services, including medication management and therapy. A case manager can also help you to research area services providers, coordinate with other service agencies, and monitor progress toward mental health goals.

Contact Us

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Parents or guardians can request case management services from their outpatient therapist, who will make the referral. Those who are not currently seeing a therapist can request assistance from Emergency Services, who will schedule an intake/evaluation appointment with a mental health therapist.

Counseling Centers

• Call 804-693-5057 for Gloucester Counseling Center, Ark, Virginia
• Call 804-333-3671 for Warsaw Counseling Center, Warsaw, Virginia

Contact Us

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Medicaid, Comprehensive Services Act (CSA) funds secured through Family Assessment and Planning Teams (FAPT) in your county or private pay based on a sliding scale pay for the service. For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Strategic Family Mentoring (SFM) works in conjunction with other Middle Peninsula-Northern Neck Community Services Board (MPNNCSB) services, such as outpatient, intensive outpatient, and intensive in-home therapy, to promote the achievement of treatment goals. For example, mentors can be extremely effective as positive role models to help the single parent family.

About the Mentors

Mentors are individuals who are selected and hired by the MPNNCSB as part-time employees who collaborate with the therapist to assist and support the family as they work on achieving their goals.

Contact Us

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Mentors monitor client/family progress and communicate observed strengths and barriers to the therapist weekly. Mentors are the therapists' "eyes and ears in the field," and the client/family "coach and cheerleader."

Mentors are not substitute parents or friends, but are part of the therapeutic team to support lasting positive change. They assist the child/adolescent and family in developing the natural family and/or community supports that will help to maintain the therapeutic changes after the mentor is gone.

Contact Us

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Children/adolescents between 5 and 17 years old with a parents/guardians willing to participate in SFM service. The family must reside within one of the ten counties served by the Middle Peninsula Northern Neck Community Services Board (MPNNCSB). Child/adolescent must be receiving outpatient, intensive outpatient, or intensive in-home therapy from a MPNNCSB therapist.

Contact Us

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Mentors work with the family and therapist to:

• Engage the child in recreational and social activities, promoting social activities, while discussing effective handling of peer interactions and decision making in problems they are experiencing
• Facilitate participation in appropriate social activities and connection to positive peer group
• Monitor family progress and communicate observations of progress, strengths, and barriers to goal achievement to therapist
• Reinforce and reward the child/adolescent and family efforts and progress toward change in appropriate ways
• Schedule outings strategically to allow parent(s) or guardian(s) time alone to address their own therapeutic tasks.
• Support family efforts to complete assigned therapeutic tasks (such as homework) and in using strategies developed in collaboration with their therapist
• Identify sustainable resources in the family/community to support healthy functioning and the achievement of treatment goals

Contact Us

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Comprehensive Services Act (CSA) funds approved by the county Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) and the Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT) pay for SFM services. For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Discuss the need for a Mentor with your therapist. They will submit the referral and pursue funding through Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT). Agencies who are referring for the service should contact Rachel Teagle, Youth Family Services (YFS)/Intensive In-home Coordinator 804-776-7501 ext. 104), to obtain the referral form and schedule the SFM request for funding through FAPT.

Contact Us

For more information contact Scott Britton, Mental Health Care Coordinator, at 804-758-4035.

Children, youth, families, schools, and a wide-range of other community groups and organizations throughout the ten counties served by the Middle Peninsula-Northern Neck Community Services Board (MPNNCSB) can benefit from Prevention Services programs. To learn more, email Prevention Services or call 804-642-5402

Parents who are interested in learning new or different approaches can register for one of the many parenting classes that we offer.

Educators might want to learn about the many school-based prevention programs that we offer to children and youth. Principals, teachers, or guidance counselors could explore topics such as:

• Creating a Positive and Productive Classroom
• Engaging Challenging Students
• Enhancing Teacher Collaboration
• Managing Stressful Situations with Grace and Ease
• Preventing Youth Suicide

Parent-teacher associations (PTA) can bring these prevention programs to their school communities.

These are a sampling of the topics that we can address in a training or workshop forum.  We can also tailor a program to meet your specific organization's needs.

The Prevention, Health and Wellness Division's local phone number is 804-642-5402. Our toll free number is 1-888-PREV-550 and our fax number is 804-642-8765. You can also email Prevention Health and Wellness.

When you call our office, program staff will help you identify the service or program that you seeking.

In general referrals are not required to take part in our programs, classes and trainings. Referrals are involved in some of our parenting programs.

We recommend that you please call our office to discuss which program, class or training you are exploring so we can provide you with additional information.

Have you been to the local Emergency Room or was law enforcements called? If so, did you have an evaluation? 

Was the provider you seen non-paneled with your insurance. Did you verbal/sign the annual service or ABN (Advance Beneficiary Notice).

Please reach out to the program administrative staff to confirm.

Insurances companies have to process the claim. Once we received the explanation of benefits, we post all details. If you have a deductible, co-pay, or co-insurance; it will be patient responsibility.

Yes, please provide the date range you are looking for. This will include all payments made by insurance or self-pay payments.

Please call 804-693-5640 or email at billing@mpnn.state.va.us to confirm we received payment

Yes, please contact the front desks of Gloucester Counseling Center at 804-693-5057 select option 7 or Essex Counseling Center at 804-333-3671.

Yes, please call Gloucester Counseling Center at 804-693-5057 select option 7 or Essex Counseling Center at 804-333-3671 to make payments over the phone. However, you can also pay your bill online at HERE.

Please send payments to: 

ATTN: Billing
P.O. 269
Ark, Virginia 23003

You can fax a copy of your insurance card to 804-693-4822 or email at billing@mpnn.state.va.us