View the Children's Mental Health Unit brochure.
It is very difficult and emotionally stressful for families when their child has been diagnosed with a mental health illness.  Families’ main concern is keeping their child safe while seeking appropriate treatment.  Therefore it is important that families are aware of the mental health services that are available in their county as well as how to obtain funding for these services.  

Magellan Behavioral Health of Pennsylvania (Magellan) manages behavioral health services for Lehigh County residents who are enrolled in the Pennsylvania HealthChoices program.

*View information on  Getting Care through Magellan.
* Find a  Magellan Provider.
*View information on Medical Necessity Criteria for Services.

Magellan's Medical Assistance Programs/Services
Blended Case Management – assists youth with vocational goals, coordinating services as well as securing benefits and entitlements.  This service provides a 24-hour on-call.        

Certified Peer Support-this program is for youth ages 16-26 and provides individual advocacy, education, skill training and the development of natural supports.  It also provides peer support for work and other meaningful activities in addition to crisis management and linkages to other programs.   

Blended Case Management – assists youth with vocational goals, coordinating services as well as securing benefits and entitlements.  This service provides a 24-hour on-call.        

Certified Peer Support-this program is for youth ages 16-26 and provides individual advocacy, education, skill training and the development of natural supports.  It also provides peer support for work and other meaningful activities in addition to crisis management and linkages to other programs.

Transition to Independence Program-this program is also for youth ages 16-26 and provides a 24 hour on-call system with trauma-informed staff who provide peer support and assistance with individualized service plan goals which can include vocational and educational pursuits as well as housing.  

Outpatient Treatment – site based clinic that provides counseling and medication management.

In School Partial Hospitalization – daily treatment including individual and group counseling and psychiatric care provided in the school setting.  The Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 provides the educational portion of the program.

Acute Partial Hospitalization - site-based program, generally lasting 4-6 week, that provides six hours of treatment including psychological evaluations, medication monitoring and therapy (individual, family, group) care five days a week.  

Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) Individual  – home and community services for individuals through the age of 21 which may include a Mobile Therapist, Behavior Consultant or Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and a Behavioral Health Technician.  Mobile therapists address trauma, parenting and family dynamics.  Behavior Consultants and Board Certified Behavior Analysts provide expertise in behavioral management and direct the implementation of individualized behavior modification support plans.  Behavioral Health Technicians implement and behavior modification plan and provides modeling for caregivers.

Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)-home and community services for individuals through the age of 21 that provides direct observation, measurement and functional analysis of the relationship between the environment and behavior.  The Behavior Consultant-ABA enacts a behavior modification plan in which the Behavioral Health Technician-ABA implements.  This service also provides modeling for caregivers.

Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) Group Services-these services are available to school-age children that are on the Autism Spectrum.  Psychiatric evaluation and medication management are provided as well as therapeutic intervention at the treatment site location.  Groups generally occur after school and over the summer.

Functional Family Therapy -this service is for youth ages 11-18 who are at risk or presenting with delinquency, aggression and/or substance abuse.  The program can be used with runaway or truant youth as an alternative to detention for first time misdemeanors.

Multi-Systemic Therapy – a five-month program which provides a 24 hour on-call system for youth ages 12-17.  It provides intensive family therapy and targets violent and/or substance abusing youth at-risk of an out-of-home placement.

Sexual Issues Treatment and Education-this in-home service is for youth ages 4-21.  It provides flexible hours as well as a 24 hour on-call system.  The team assesses the nature and acuity of the sexual offender's issues, clarifies socially accepted values, provides treatment and helps the victims of the abuser.

Family Based – a 6 to 9 month trauma informed in-home service which includes a 24 hour on-call system.  It is focused on family therapy and is used to divert children from higher levels of treatment or to assist in the adjustment to lower levels of treatment.

Community Residential Rehabilitative (CRR) Host Home-licensed homes with structure, support and treatment provided in that setting.  It is a less restrictive alternative to RTF.  The level of care must be prescribed as medically necessary by a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Residential Treatment Facility (RTF)-A six-month to one-year program providing 24-hour residence for youth with severe emotional and behavioral problems.  Education is provided on-grounds.  This level of care must be recommended by a psychiatrist as being medically necessary.

Short-Term Intensive RTF (STIR)-this RTF program is typically only 2-4 months.  The family therapy is provided in the family home.  Upon discharge, a recommendation for Family Based Services is made.

Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitalizations -intensive, short-term psychiatric 24-hour care for the acute stage of mental illness or behavioral difficulties.  It provides treatment, medication management and stabilization.  The average length of stay is a few days to a few weeks.