Story Behind the Curve

Fortunately, local school districts have been good community partners and recognize that some students need this level of mental health service and have provided transportation on school days. However, days off from school and certainly summer months see this population with ongoing mental health service needs without transportation to Day Treatment. Each ride that is arranged is potentially a day that a young person with significant mental health needs may have had to miss out on Day Treatment programming.

Partners

TSA staff work with parents to access other appropriate resources which vary and may include: community bus, family resources, medical covered vehicles, taxi, etc.

What Works

Although this may present as an easy enough task to accomplish—arranging for transportation for a child—this is a significant activity that requires staff time and expertise to help parents navigate the process of engaging transportation resources to transport the child to mental health services. Additionally, some parents flounder at the complexity and follow through involved in making such arrangements. TSA staff companion them or conduct this activity at their request to support the child and family in accessing transportation to get to needed Day Treatment service.

Action Plan

TSA staff proactively provide outreach to parents at intake and periodically throughout the year, such as before holidays or other school breaks, to offer support and assistance with transportation arrangements. The service provided is tailored to each individual family’s needs, ranging from making reminder calls to make them aware of dates when school is not in session (and therefore alternative transportation is needed), to providing contact information/logistical support/step-by-step instructions regarding options for alternative transportation, or taking on the task of making calls to providers to set up and confirm each day’s rides.