Resources for Adoptive Families
Care1st Health Plan is committed to meeting the needs of our adoptive families by providing and making behavioral health services accessible. Care1st understands adoptive families and adopted children may have unique needs. Care1st staff are available to help provide education, coordination, and support to families.
Initiating Care
If an adoptive parent sees an urgent need for the child to receive behavioral health services, the adoptive parent may contact Care1st to obtain a listing of contracted providers who can perform a screening and evaluation of the child. The initial evaluation of the child will take place within seven calendar days after a referral or request for services. If after the screening and evaluation it is determined that the child is in need of behavioral health services, the Care1st contracted behavioral health provider will provide this service within twenty-one calendar days after the initial evaluation.
On completion of the initial assessment
- The adoptive parent can call the Care1st Care Coordination Department (1-866-560-4042, option 4 then option 9) if a recommended behavioral health service is not provided to a member within 21 calendar days. The Care1st Care Coordinator will also notify the caller of the requirement to also report the failure to receive the approved behavioral health services to the AHCCCS Clinical Resolution Unit.
- The adoptive parent may receive services directly from any AHCCCS registered providers, regardless of whether the provider is contracted with Care1st to schedule an appt. If the provider is not contracted with Care1st, the provider must submit the provider's claim to Care1st and accept the lesser of 130% of the AHCCCS negotiated rate or the provider's standard rate.
Quick Resources
Foster and adoptive parents can access crisis services by calling the Foster Care Hotline at 1-844-365-3144.
Request a crisis mobile team to be dispatched to check any safety concerns for the child and provide support and resources to the family.
If the crisis mobile team does not arrive within 2 hours, foster and adoptive parents should call the Foster Care Hotline 1-844-365-3144, again to report their concern and secure a timely response.
Resources
- Arizona Friends of Foster Children
- Foster Care Review Board
- AzEIP Referral
- AZ Family Resources
- AHCCCS Resources
If the adoptive parent sees that the child is in need of crisis services and the crisis services provider in that county is not being responsive, the adoptive parent may also contact the Care1st Care Coordination Department to assist with coordinating crisis services for the child.
If an adoptive parent, through the Behavioral Health Provider/Child & Family Team, requests Care1st to place an adoptive child in residential treatment because the child is displaying threatening behavior. The provider must submit a Treatment Authorization Request (TAR) and Care1st will respond within seventy-two hours after the request was made. If the adoptive child is hospitalized due to the threatening behavior before Care1st responds, Care1st and its contracted providers will work with the hospital to make sure there is an appropriate and safe discharge plan. The discharge plan will include recommended follow-up services, including recommendations made by the Child and Family Team (CFT).
For additional details related to the right and responsibilities of adopted parents refer to A.R.S. §8-512.01
Trauma is everywhere, it can impact a person at any time and may present as a behavioral health, substance use or physical health conditions. Since trauma can have serious effects on health, behaviors, relationships, work, school, and other aspects of life, it is important for behavioral health, health care, and other providers to gain the knowledge and skills needed to promote healing, recovery, and wellness. A Trauma-Informed Approach, often referred to as trauma-informed care (TIC), is a promising model for organizational change in health, behavioral, health, and other settings that promotes resilience in staff and patients. Areas of this approach include organizational safety, trustworthiness, transparency, cultural sensitivity, collaboration, and empowerment among and between staff and patients. This approach recognizes the role trauma plays in the lives of patients/consumers and seeks to shift the clinical perspective from “what’s wrong with you” to “what happened to you” by recognizing and accepting symptoms and difficult behaviors as strategies developed to cope with childhood trauma.
Additional resources on trauma-informed care for behavioral health providers, community organizations and adopted families can be found at Center of Excellence for Integrated Health Solutions
Adoptive families can have behavioral health, alcohol and substance use services at no cost to them. These services can help with problems like depression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), parent-child conflict, or alcohol use. Our Care1st Customer Service team is available to help with accessing services and/or if there are any questions about behavioral health services or providers. Our provider network offers culturally sensitive, individualized and comprehensive service options. Adoptive families are able to access services in a variety of ways:
- Contacting Care1st Customer Service line at (866)560-4042. An adoptive parent can talk to a customer services representative Monday through Friday. Customer Service will help identify a behavioral health provider in the area.
- Speaking to a Primary Care Provider (PCP)
- Going to our Find a Provider tool for a list of contracted behavioral health providers
Care1st maintains an effective process for adoptive families to access behavioral health services in a timely manner. An adoptive family may refer themselves directly for behavioral health services. If help is needed in finding a contracted behavioral health provider the Care1st Customer Service line can help.
If a behavioral health need is identified by the PCP they are able to refer a member by utilizing one of following ways:
- Directly contacting an Outpatient Clinic Provider for specific services (i.e. peer support, counseling, etc.) as an intake/assessment and treatment plan must be completed indicating the service(s) to be provided are medically necessary.
- Contact the provider service line at (866)560-4042 to obtain a list of contracted behavioral health providers.
- Refer to the Find a Provider tool
- Contact the Care Coordination line Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at (866)560-4042, option 4 then option 9
Care1st understands the importance of helping our adoptive families so that they receive the right care at the right time. In the event a clinically necessary service added to the service plan is not provided, the adoptive parent can call the Care1st Care Coordination department. The Care Coordination team is able to assist the adoptive parent with connecting with any AHCCCS-registered providers directly, regardless of whether they are a part of the Care1st provider network, to schedule an appointment. Caregivers and guardians can also choose a provider by searching the Care1st Provider Directory.
Please call the Care1st Care Coordination line for assistance at (866)560-4042 option 4 then option 9. One of our care coordinators will be able to follow up with you.
Below is a list of some of the behavioral health services that are covered by AHCCCS. This is not a complete list. All services must be medically necessary. If there are questions about covered services, the Care1st Customer Service line can be contacted or a behavioral health provider, if needed. For some services, authorization may be required. If Care1st does not approve the service, they will send a notice to the adoptive parent letting them know.
- Behavioral Health Counseling & Therapy (Individual, Group, and Family)
- Behavioral Health Screening, Mental Health Assessment and Specialized Testing
- Rehabilitation Services
- Skills Training and Development
- Cognitive Rehabilitation
- Behavioral Health Prevention/Promotion Education
- Psycho Educational Services and Ongoing Support to Maintain Employment
- Other Professional (Traditional Healing, Auricular Acupuncture***)
- Medical Services
- Medication Services
- Lab, Radiology and Medical Imaging
- Medication Management
- Electro-Convulsive Therapy
- Support Services
- Case Management
- Behavior Coaching
- Personal Care
- Home Care Training (Family)
- Self Help/Peer Services
- Home Care Training to Home Care Client (HCTC)
- Respite Care
- Supportive Housing
- Sign Language or Oral Interpretive Services
- Transportation
- Crisis Intervention Services
- Inpatient Services (Hospital & Behavioral Health Inpatient Facility)
- Residential Services
- Behavioral Health Day Programs (Supervised, Therapeutic, Medical)
Care1st is committed to providing additional education on the topics mentioned above to providers, members, families, and other parties involved in the member’s care, on an ongoing basis. If you would like to receive additional education, please contact us.