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DCF’s Division of Child Behavioral Health Services (DCBHS) serves children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral health care challenges and their families. DCBHS is committed to providing these services based on the needs of the child and family in a family-centered, community-based environment.

DCBHS believes that the family or caregiver plays a central role in the health and well being of children. DCF involves families throughout the planning and treatment process in order to create a service system that values and promotes the advice and recommendations of the family, a system that is friendly to families and one which provides them the tools and support needed to create successful life experiences for their children with emotional and behavioral problems.

Download this guide from the US Department of Health and Humans Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:
Family Guide to Systems of Care for Children with Mental Health Needs (English and Spanish)

A Consumer's Guide to Getting and Keeping Health Insurance in New Jersey 



Helpful Information for Communities



Youth Transition Planning from DCBHS to the Adult Mental Health System

August 28, 2008 letter
Information about the plannning process
Transition Planning Tool

Important Policies

Admissions to Out-of-Home Treatment Settings
Procedures for Dispute Resolution, Administrative Review and Appeal

14-Day Plans

Frequently Asked Questions and Scenarios Regarding 14 Day Plans/Court Invovled Youth 

Out-of-Home Treatment

Creating an Out-of-Home (OOH) Assessment if ABSolute (tutorial)
Bulletin Board for Out-of-Home Treatment Referrals (A tutorial for out of home providers and case management entities)
Out-of-Home Referral Packet
Accessing the Placement Services Unit

Step Down Referral and Admission Process from Out-of-Home Placement to Out-of-Home Placement
Step Down JCR Screen Shots
Step Down Progress Note in ABSolute

Intensive In-Community (IIC) and Behavioral Assistance (BA)

Intensive In-Community and Behavioral Assistance Services (PowerPoint presentation)
January 7, 2008 - Important announcement regarding IIC providers. 
Instructions for becoming a New Jersey Medicaid Provider
Medicaid Provider Application
Provider Profile Information

Frequently asked questions about the licensing of IIC providers and proposed changes by DCBHS to BA/IIC regulations. 

Plan for Transition from Non-Licensed Master's Level IIC Providers
Information for Mobile Response and Stabilization Services, Youth Case Management and Care Management Organizations as service requestors.
Information for Value Options as service requestor.

Click on the links below for information about the Behavioral Assistance Individual Service Plan.
PowerPoint presentation
Template
Template with Example

Collaborations

Collaborating to Serve the Children and Families of New Jersey
A PowerPoint presentation for networking between the courts and DCBHS.



The state of New Jersey funded the University of South Florida to conduct an independent review and assessment of New Jersey’s system of care for kids with emotional, behavioral and mental health needs.  View the final report here:  Final Report - Independent Assessment of New Jersey's Children's Behavioral Health Care System