Parent Information

We serve students who are experiencing difficulties either on or off the school campus. We work collaboratively with students to develop healthy coping strategies and solutions, impacting student performance and overall functioning. Our intent is to help these students find coping strategies and solutions that enable them to return to a healthy level of functioning in life and to improve performance in the classroom.

Services include:

• Individual and group counseling

• Crisis Intervention

• Peer Mediation

• Nurture Groups

• Restorative Circles

• Social Skills Instruction

• Life Skills Instruction

• Leadership Development

• Consultation referrals to community resources

• Referrals to community resources

• Limited case management and/or home visits

• Transitional support for returning students

• Staff Development

• Student retreats

• Participation on various campus-based teams

Our staff includes professionals with training and experience in the areas of social work, marriage and family therapy, counseling, prevention and chemical dependency. All are licensed and/or certified in their areas of expertise. Each works closely with school personnel as an important member of each campus’ team.

Students can be referred for services by their teacher, counselor, parent, friend or self. All services are provided at no cost to the student and on their campus. Measures are taken to ensure client confidentiality. Parents are engaged in services as necessary or as requested by the student.

The Youth Empowerment Services waiver is a statewide 1915(c) Medicaid program that helps children and youth with serious mental, emotional and behavioral difficulties. The YES waiver provides intensive services delivered within a strengths-based team planning process called wraparound. Wraparound builds on family and community support and utilizes YES services to help build the family’s natural support network and connection with their community. YES services are family-centered, coordinated and effective at preventing out-of-home placement and promoting lifelong independence and self-defined success.

The program aims to:

• Reduce the amount of time the child is out of their home and community because of a mental health need.

• Expand available mental health services and supports.

• Improve the lives of children and youth.

A wraparound facilitator will meet with you weekly to work on creating a plan specifically for your child. The wraparound plan is also made with help from your child and family team, which meets once a month. The team includes you, your child and people who are important in your child’s life. This may be professionals, family, friends, coaches, or teachers who want to help your child meet their goals. Together, the team develops a plan of care to meet the specific needs and goals of your child and family using YES services, community resources and family strengths.

What's Included in the YES Program

The YES program includes: Professional services such as animal assisted and art therapy, family supports, paraprofessional services, respite care, community livings supports, and others.

What Are the Benefits of YES Waiver Services?

The YES waiver is designed to improve the lives of children, youth and families served

• You and your child are supported by a team.

• Services and supports target your child’s and family’s needs.

• You and your child can access services that are only available through YES.

• Supports help your child stay in your home and community.

Who Is Eligible for YES Waiver Services?

To participate in the YES waiver, a child must:

• Be 3-18 years old.

• Have serious mental, emotional and behavioral difficulties.

• Have a qualifying mental health diagnosis.

• Be at risk of being placed outside of their home due to their mental health needs.

• Meet the criteria to be in a psychiatric hospital.

• Be eligible for Medicaid (parent's income does not apply).

• Currently live in a home setting with a legal guardian or on their own.

How Long Does the Program Last?

The average length of time in the YES waiver is 8 to 16 months. Your child’s needs will determine program duration.

How Do I Get YES Waiver Services?

If you are a parent or a guardian, please contact your local mental health authority and ask for your child to be added to the YES waiver inquiry list. https://hhs.texas.gov/services/mental-health-substance-use/childrens-mental-health/yes-waiver

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/17/psychotherapist-parenting-tips-what-the-most-mentally-strong-kids-always-do.html

What is it?

TBRI^® is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. TBRI^® uses Empowering Principles to address physical needs, Connecting Principles for attachment needs, and Correcting Principles to disarm fear-based behaviors. While the intervention is based on years of attachment, sensory processing, and neuroscience research, the heartbeat of TBRI^® is connection.

“When you connect to the heart of a child, everything is possible.”

– Dr. Karyn Purvis

Who is it for and who should use it?

TBRI^® is designed to meet the complex needs of children who have experienced adversity, early harm, toxic stress, and/or trauma. Because of their histories, it is often difficult for these children to trust the loving adults in their lives, which often results in perplexing behaviors. TBRI^® offers practical tools for parents, caregivers, teachers, or anyone who works with children, to see the “whole child” in their care and help that child reach his highest potential.

Why use it?

Because of their histories, children who have experienced trauma have changes in their bodies, brains, behaviors, and belief systems. While a variety of parenting strategies may be successful in typical circumstances, children with histories of harm need caregiving that meets their unique needs and addresses the whole child. That said, we’ve found that any child benefits from a nurturing, trusting relationship with a safe adult.

Where is it used?

TBRI^® is used worldwide in homes, residential facilities, group homes, schools, camps, schools, juvenile justice facilities, courts, with survivors of sex trafficking, in faith communities, courts, with law enforcement, in clinical practices and beyond.

How do you do it?

If you’d like to get started right away, we encourage you to look around our site for more information and resources. Reading our book, The Connected Child, or viewing any of our DVDs are both great places to start. TBRI^® 101: A Self-Guided Course in Trust-Based Relationships also provides nearly eight hours of instruction on TBRI^®. Parents can learn to implement Trust-based parenting in a variety of ways and we offer a few ideas on where to start on our parent resource page. Professionals can apply to attend our TBRI^® Practitioner Training.

Where can I read about it?

Purvis, K. B., Cross, D. R., & Sunshine, W. L. (2007). The Connected Child: Bringing hope and healing to your adoptive family. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Purvis, K. B., Cross, D. R., Dansereau, D. F., & Parris, S. R. (2013). Trust-based relational intervention (TBRI^®): A systematic approach to complex developmental trauma. Child & Youth Services, 34(4), 1-28.

Purvis, K. B., Cross, D. R., & Pennings, J. S. (2009). Trust-based relational intervention: Interactive principles for adopted children with special social-emotional needs. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education, and Development, 48, 3-22.

Purvis, K. B., Parris, S. R., & Cross, D. R. (2011). Trust-based relational intervention: Principles and practices. In Rosman, E. A., Johnson, C. E., & Callahan, N. M. (Eds.), Adoption factbook V (pp. 485-489). Alexandria, VA: National Council for Adoption.