Assessment

A complete mental health assessment will be completed to determine if your child meets the criteria for receiving mental health treatment at Tulare Youth Service Bureau. The assessment process includes meeting the child and key family members or caregivers, as well as talking with important people in the child's life who may be helpful in developing a plan for treatment. During the assessment phase, a lot of information is gathered as well as the therapist observing the family interactions to help in learning how mental health treatment will benefit the child and family. The assessment process may also determine if the child may need to be seen by the agency's child psychiatrist for further evaluation. Sometimes the assessment helps to decide that Tulare Youth Service Bureau is not the best place for your child to get services. If this happens, we will work with your family to refer them to the appropriate agency in the community.

School Based Mental Health Services

Early on, Tulare Youth Service Bureau recognized the need to work with children in the school setting. Currently TYSB is able to serve children at 48 elementary, middle and high schools in traditional and non-traditional school settings throughout Tulare County. A child might receive services at their school site for a variety of reasons. Many families who reside in Tulare County face access to service issues such as transportation or work-related commitments that prevent taking the necessary time to bring their child to the clinic. Many children served may be demonstrating behavioral challenges in the school setting. By working with the child in this natural setting, outcomes can be improved. Additionally, the consistent presence of a TYSB therapist at a school site enhances TYSB’s relationships with the schools themselves. Being available to respond to high risk and crisis situations, while providing support and guidance also improves outcomes.

Culture Competency

A culturally competent mental health system includes skills, attitudes and policies that make sure the needs of everyone are addressed in a society of diverse values, beliefs, orientations, different races, religions and languages. It is a system that improves the quality of care for all of Tulare County's many different peoples and provides them with understanding and respect for those differences. Tulare Youth Service Bureau (TYSB) is responsible to provide the individuals it serves with culturally and linguistically competent specialty mental health services. For example: non-English or limited English-speaking persons have the right to receive services in their preferred language and the right to request an interpreter. If an interpreter is requested, one must be provided at no cost. People seeking services do not have to bring their own interpreters. Written and verbal interpretation of your rights, benefits and treatments are available in your preferred language. Information is also available in alternative formats if someone cannot read or has visual challenges. TYSB is required to:

  • Provide specialty mental health services in your preferred language.
  • Provide culturally appropriate assessments and treatments.
  • Provide a combination of culturally specific approaches to address various cultural needs that exist in Tulare County to create a safe and culturally responsive system.
  • Make efforts to reduce language barriers.
  • Make efforts to address the cultural-specific needs of individuals receiving services.
  • Provide services with sensitivity to culturally specific view of illness and wellness.
  • Consider your world view in providing you specialty mental health services.
  • Have a process for teaching TYSB employees about what it means to live with mental illness from the point of view of people who are mentally ill.
  • Provide oral interpretation services free of charge. This applies to all non-English languages.
  • Provide written information in threshold languages, alternative formats, and in an appropriate manner that takes into consideration the special needs of those who, for example, are visually limited or have limited reading proficiency.