Friendship House brings our services to children to meet them where they are. Our CSBBH Teams serve fourteen school districts across seven counties in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Friendship House provides SAP services in six school districts and one charter school in Lackawanna County and three school districts in Susquehanna County.
Outpatient Therapy Services support individuals with mental illness in their recovery to improve functioning, enhance resiliency and well-being, promote independence, and maintain optimal functioning in the community consistent with the individual’s preferences. The service may be provided to individuals with short-term or long-term treatment needs. Treatment services are provided in community-based settings or via telehealth based on a clinical recommendation from the Mental Health Professional and/or a psychiatrist. Friendship House offers outpatient therapy at multiple clinic locations to make care convenient and readily accessible for children, adolescents, and adults in their communities.
Friendship House offers Community and School-Based Behavioral Health (CSBBH) services to children with severe emotional or behavioral issues that interfere with their ability to be successful at school, at home, and in the community. CSBBH works with children and families to assist the child in gaining skills to develop new ways to manage their feelings and behaviors so that they can learn, do well in school, and get along better with others. The CSBBH team includes a combination of mental health professionals and behavioral health workers and is also supported by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. A comprehensive assessment and a treatment plan are developed in collaboration with the family and child which prescribe the services to be delivered and changes to the plan are made as needed. Progress is tracked and reported regularly and the team works closely with both school personnel and the child’s parents/guardians throughout treatment.
The Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a systematic team process used to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning. SAP is designed to assist in identifying issues including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and mental health issues that pose a barrier to a student’s success. The primary goal of the Student Assistance Program is to help students overcome these barriers so that they may achieve, advance, and remain in school. SAP team members are trained to identify issues, determine whether the presenting issue lies within the responsibility of the school, and make recommendations to assist the student and the parent. SAP team members do not diagnose, treat, or refer to treatment; but they may refer a student to a liaison who may screen or assess for further community-based services and support.