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About Counseling4Kids

Counseling4Kids has a rich history of nearly 25 years of helping children. They started out as a small private practice with a passionate team of therapists dedicated to supporting children in the foster care system. From the very beginning, these therapists recognized the profound impact of trauma on children who were separated from their families, and they understood the long-lasting effects of displacement. They were committed to uncovering the root causes of these challenges, paving the way for therapeutic healing, and advocating for those who often had no voice.

Over time, this specialization grew and evolved into a powerful partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH), enabling them to offer comprehensive services in both the northern and southern areas of Los Angeles County.

Today Counseling4Kids utilizes a combination of licensed therapists and clinical associate therapists (working on their licensure) to treat their clients, with plans to teach and train the next generation of therapists who are completing their education.

Counseling4Kids has grown to serve approximately 1600 children per year.  They have a large team of highly skilled, licensed and associate therapists providing assessments and weekly therapy to children and at risk youth.  Most of their clients have experienced trauma from severe abuse and neglect.  Their range of services include: individual therapy, family therapy, psychological evaluation, medication support, case management and referral to community resources.

Counseling4Kids realizes that culture is the most important factor in organizational success, and they emphasize a creative and collaborative working environment. They are held together by their core values, and there is a great sense of involvement among staff and employees. They emphasize long-term stakeholder development where success is defined within the framework of addressing the needs of the clients and caring for the employees. 

 

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Counseling4Kids Philosophy

Counseling4Kids Mission for At Risk Youth

Counseling4Kids delivers healing and advocacy to at risk youth and families to improve the quality of life for all.

Counseling4Kids is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides effective mental health services to abused and neglected children and at risk youth in Los Angeles County. They specialize in the treatment of children in foster care.

Why Counseling4Kids Programs are Unique

  • Their therapists travel to the homes and schools of the children in their at risk youth programs to provide therapy.
  • Providing services to children at home creates better outcomes with less missed appointments, the ability to identify stressors in the home, and the opportunity to follow a child through multiple home placements.
  • They use a combination of licensed and unlicensed therapists who are trained in the unique needs of at risk youth.

Core Values

Accountability:

Counseling4Kids therapists are personally and collectively responsible for their words, actions, emotions, decisions, successes, and failures. They acknowledge their mistakes without fear, and self-correct, understanding the need to make things right and to maintain healthy relationships and results.

Transparency:

They are honest and openly communicate with others and they willingly sharing information even when it may be uncomfortable. They will not have hidden agendas or conditions and commit to collaborative motives and cooperation to ensure they make the best decisions.

Teamwork:

They will work together collaborating to achieve common goals in the most effective and efficient way, by being transparent and showing concern and support for the wellbeing of each other, their partners, and their clients.

Trust:

They will establish a system of safety and belief based on mutual understanding, expectations, honesty, integrity, responsibility, and open communication which create dependable individuals, systems, departments, and an organization.

Create Wildly Successful Customers:

They will work to understand the dynamic and complex needs of their clients and be agile in their efforts to provide quality services by addressing their needs and equipping them with the tools and resources to help them thrive and succeed in any environment.

Develop Their People:

Cultivate an environment that supports and promotes personal and professional growth opportunities for all staff and clients.

Counseling4Kids At Risk Youth Programs

Home-Based Program

Counseling4Kids uses a “clinic without walls” model, providing in-home therapy because of the many benefits to children and families. When services come to the family, the number of missed sessions are minimized. If an at risk youth moves to a new home, the therapist can follow the client and provide continuity of care. Therapy is provided by clinicians who are well trained in the unique needs of children.

School-Linked Program

Counseling4Kids' school at risk youth program provides effective mental health services to children and youth in local school districts. Counseling4Kids launched its school program in January 2016. They provide parenting classes, case management, and individual rehab services in adjunct to mental health services provided by licensed clinicians. The goal of the school program is to minimize the effects of trauma, assist parents in increasing effective communication, and to provide comprehensive services to children and their families in the community.

MAT Program

Multidisciplinary Assessment Team (MAT) is a collaborative effort between the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the L.A. Department of Mental Health (LADMH), and other community providers. It is designed to ensure the immediate and comprehensive assessment of children and youth entering out-of-home placement.

When a child is newly detained, he/she is eligible to receive a MAT assessment through DCFS. The MAT assessment was designed to make sure that all child/family needs are assessed when a child/youth enters foster care. This assessment is meant to help a family meet needs a child may have that place the family in danger of a lengthy separation. The information gathered by this assessment will be used to determine what services are most needed by the child with the intention of using this information for the most appropriate placement of the child while ensuring that his or her needs will be met.

Counseling4Kids & Exym Foster Care Management Software 

Exym is one of the market leaders for Mental Health Information Systems and they offer a solid platform built on the experience of former therapists and clinicians. Exym has great relationships with many local providers, and they work very hard to listen, accommodate, and implement solutions that benefit their clients. Their extensive knowledge of LACDMH requirements is a bonus for our operations and creates a comfort level and assurance of accuracy, reliability, dependability, and functionality we require from our EHR.

-Sheldon Brackett, CEO at Counseling4Kids

Exym's cutting-edge foster care management software plays a vital role in supporting Counseling4Kids' mission by providing them with an advanced Electronic Health Record system. This system serves as a comprehensive repository for all the crucial client data required for their day-to-day operations. Managing a large volume of data is a significant challenge for foster care organizations, as it involves completing referrals, opening and assigning cases, securely storing confidential clinical data such as notes and assessments, efficiently tracking appointments, generating reports, and effectively communicating with clients. Successfully accomplishing these tasks is essential for the agency's success, as it ensures access to crucial information and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Exym plays a crucial role in the internal operations of Counseling4Kids, meeting their technological needs and ensuring compliance and confidentiality for their countywide system of client care. By utilizing Exym, Counseling4Kids is able to allocate more time and resources towards focusing on the needs of their stakeholders, rather than administrative tasks. The data generated from Exym empowers Counseling4Kids to create programs that specifically address current issues and trends, ultimately allowing them to better serve their communities and fulfill their mission of providing healing and advocacy to at risk youth and families, and improving the quality of life for all.

Exym is a comprehensive EHR software solution designed specifically for behavioral health agencies. Trusted for 20+ years, our intuitive and customizable software empowers providers to improve client outcomes, manage revenue cycles, and increase agency efficiency. Exym allows you to spend more time on what matters most- the clients in your care.

If you'd like to learn more about Exym's foster care management software, visit our Foster Care Providers page or book a demo today!

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Jessica Carey
Post by Jessica Carey
May 30, 2023

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