Mental health refers to an individual’s emotional and psychological well-being, affecting how we think, act, and feel. We can have positive or negative mental health. It is always present and determines how we or a person respond to stress, make decisions, and connect with others. Poor mental health may lead to a mental illness, a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning.

Parents and children may be referred for mental health assessments. To ensure a thorough and accurate assessment is completed, it is important for the assigned Case Management team to communicate with the provider and submit the referral and supporting documentation. This ensures the provider has access to the individual’s history, current concerns, as well as their self-reports. Below are some common mental health assessments individuals may be referred to:

Biopsychosocial Assessment: Conducted as part of an intake for mental health treatment to assess three main areas – biological, psychological, and social factors of the person. This allows for an understanding of the person’s history and current challenges so the provider can accurately diagnose and treat the person.

Psychological Evaluation: This evaluation identifies and describes the emotional, behavioral, and learning problems a person may have. These can provide a clear understanding of a person’s cognitive abilities such as intellectual functioning, problem solving skills, and their memory. An IQ test may be included. These generally require a referral and recommendation from a treating therapist. The Lead Agency must give prior approval, based on the probable cause, before including in the Case Plan for a parent. The provider will answer questions submitted by Children’s Legal Services to find out how to proceed in the case.

Level of Care Assessment: Conducted during the intake process to help determine the individual’s current needs to create an appropriate treatment plan. The treatment plan may include recommendations such as psychiatric care, mental health therapy, and substance abuse treatment.

Psychiatric Evaluation: This evaluation may determine if an individual would benefit from psychotropic medications. If medications are prescribed, then medication management appointments will be scheduled to monitor any side effects and the effectiveness of the medication.

Neuropsychological Evaluation: Used to assess deficits in brain functioning which may involve MRI’s, CT scans, and additional tests. Generally, this evaluation is needed if a person experiences speech problems, memory issues, difficulties with problem solving or decision making, and changes in behavior or personality. The results help determine the severity of cognitive dysfunction, which impacts the treatment plan and diagnosis.