Tulare Youth Service Bureau (TYSB) is a private non-profit children’s mental health provider, contracted with the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency.  Our program takes children with Tulare County Medi-Cal, and for client’s with no insurance, there is a Uniform Method of Determining the Ability to Pay  (UMDAP, or sliding fee scale).  Grant funding is also available for some clients with issues related to sexual abuse through United Way, CAPIT, and Children in Need. 

Unfortunately, not all children will meet the criteria to be seen at this particular agency.  We are not able to see children that have private health insurance.  When a referral is made, the officer of the day will refer to an appropriate source for services as needed if we are unable to see them at this agency.  Most, if not all children in the Tulare County Child Welfare System will qualify for an assessment as they have Tulare County Medi-Cal.  Children with “out of county” Medi-cal will be referred to a Value Options provider.

All referrals should be first submitted to our main office in Tulare, phone number 688-2043.

Ask for the “Office of the Day”.  He or she will take the referral information and set the child up for an assessment with an appropriate clinician, generally within 2 to 3 weeks.  TYSB will triage cases that are high risk.  We have office sites in Tulare, Porterville, Dinuba, Visalia, Woodlake, Lindsey, and South County. 

Generally, children involved in the Child Welfare System are referred by the assigned social worker.  If, as a foster or kinship caregiver, you would like to make a referral, first notify the appropriate social worker.  Children in foster care will need to have certain paperwork generated and received by TYSB prior to being set up for an appointment.  Have as much information available to the officer of the day, for example, date of birth and social security number.  Also, as a foster care or family care provider, the child will benefit from your active participation in the treatment process.  Often you will be needed in sessions to provide valuable information, build skills for the child, encourage family healing.   

Additionally, if a referring CWS worker understands the child will benefit from sessions involving the birth parents (in such cases where reunification or other contact will take place), or if the case plan indicates, please have the information ready on contacting these parents to facilitate their participation in the assessment and treatment process. 

Children involved in the Juvenile Justice System also may or may not be able to receive services at TYSB.  While we may get referrals for children that are “court ordered” to participate in treatment at this agency, they will still need to meet the criteria set forth by our Health and Human Services Agency, Managed Care Division in order to be seen for ongoing services.

Should you have further question regarding initiating a referral please contact TYSB’s Intake Coordinator.