SERVICES
DGS is Delaware’s largest provider of non-residential behavioral health services for children and families.
New Services for Delaware Youth!
Universal School-Based Screening
On average, the delay between the onset of mental health symptoms and treatment initiation is 11 years. Universal school-based screening is a powerful tool that shortens this delay by proactively identifying students in need of additional behavioral health supports.
Beginning in the 2023-24 school year, Delaware Guidance Services (DGS) anticipates working with Community Education Building (CEB) partners to screen students using a curated selection of evidence-based behavioral health assessments. DGS staff would work one-on-one with identified students to learn about specific needs, connect their families with resources, and develop a plan for additional therapeutic services when necessary. DGS is excited to partner with CEB to implement universal school-based screening, a model endorsed by the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Research Council, the Institute of Medicine, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Youth Crisis Bed Program
What is the Youth Crisis Bed Program?
Our exclusive stabilization unit will provide short-term bed-based intervention aimed at offering support, opportunities for skills-building, and stabilizing symptoms/behaviors that may pose a risk of harm to a child or others. This includes risks such as injury, death, loss of placement in a home, school, or other beneficial opportunity, or the need for increased monitoring and support.
Who needs the Youth Crisis Bed Program?
Kent and Sussex Counties have few resources for bed-based intervention, especially for children under 12. The crisis stabilization program at Lewes Crisis Beds, operated by DGS, will provide much-needed support for children aged 7-12 in the area. This program also offers an additional intervention option for children and teenagers aged 7-17 who do not qualify for psychiatric inpatient services but still require stabilization.
How do I connect with the Youth Crisis Bed Program?
Identification of the need for placement at the Lewes Crisis Beds occurs one of two ways:
- Through a comprehensive risk assessment conducted by the esteemed MRSS mobile crisis team, or
- By a referral from DPBHS (Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services) when a child is part of a CFCC team receiving a HLOC and requires this level of intervention for stabilization.
Helping Hands
DGS is honored to have been selected as the sole provider for Delaware’s new Helping Hands Community Awareness Program (HHCAP).
DGS will partner with early learning centers in 13 Delaware zip codes identified as having disproportionately high incidence of substantiated child abuse and neglect. Clinicians will work directly with students, parents, and caregivers to increase protective factors and promote resiliency. Early prevention is more critical now than ever before in recent history, and children ages 0-5 are especially responsive to intervention efforts given the scale of the social and emotional development that occurs during this pivotal time. Through the HHCAP, DGS will fill a critical gap in school-based early prevention services across Delaware.
What is the Crisis Program?
The Crisis Program provides continuity of care for children experiencing an urgent mental health care need. The program is ideal for children evaluated in a hospital emergency room who do not meet the criteria for inpatient hospitalization.
When a child is connected to the Crisis Program, a trained clinician meets with the child within 24 hours, conducts an assessment, and provides up to 45 days of follow-up care. During this time, the clinician works with the child and family, supports them as the situation is stabilized, and helps connect the child with an ongoing source of outpatient care. The Crisis Program provides the child with rapid-response help in the least restrictive environment.
Who is eligible for the Crisis Program?
The Crisis Program is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for any child under the age of 18 in Delaware who is experiencing an urgent mental health care need. This may mean that a child is struggling in a way that does not require inpatient hospitalization, but prompt intervention is needed to prevent further escalation. Any child under the age of 18 in Delaware is eligible for the Crisis Program regardless of health insurance status or whether the child is currently connected to another source of care.
Is Parental/Guardian involvement and consent needed?
Yes. The Crisis Program is a voluntary service, and a Crisis Program clinician cannot provide care for a child if the parent/guardian does not consent.
How do I contact the Crisis Program?
A hospital employee, parent, caregiver, child, or other individual can reach the Crisis Program 24/7 by calling 1-800-969-HELP (4357).
What happens when I call the Crisis Program?
When you call the Crisis Program, a Call Center Clinician will ask questions to fully document the referral. The Call Center Clinician will work with the caller and child’s family to dispatch a Crisis Clinician. After a child is connected with the Crisis Program, the hospital may document the referral in the child’s hospital record.
𝗪𝗲’𝘃𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱!
At Delaware Guidance Services, we’re committed to making mental health care accessible to as many individuals and families as possible. That’s why we accept a wide range of insurance providers — including Self-Pay options.
✅ Here's a list of insurance plans we currently accept:
- Aetna
- Amerihealth Caritas
- ChampVA
- Cigna
- ComPsych
- CoreSource
- Delaware First Health
- Geisinger Quality Options
- Highmark Delaware
- Highmark Health Options
- Independence Administrators
- Independence BC Personal Choice
- Magellan
- MagnaCare First Health Network
- Meritain Health
- MH Consultants
- PBH
- Self-Pay Rates
- State of Delaware Medicaid
- TriCare
- UMR
- United Behavioral Health
We’re excited to share that 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 has officially notified us that Delaware Guidance Services is now an in-network provider for their 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐏𝐎 plan! Now even more individuals and families can access our behavioral health services with expanded coverage.
For questions about eligibility or scheduling, please call our office (302) 652-3948.
Mobile Response and Stabilization Services
Our skilled crisis intervention clinicians come to wherever you are, whenever you need it, to provide counseling and support. Using evidenced-informed risk assessments, they work with you to figure out challenges and strengths; they help you work through difficult situations; calm down anyone who may be angry, upset, or out of control; make sure everyone is safe, and create a plan for a path forward, providing short-term support.
Our statewide youth crisis response services are available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year for children and teens (ages 2-18) who:
- Have identified to be at risk of harm to themselves or others
- Have experienced recent trauma
- May be experiencing mental health symptoms
- Are seeking help for managing emotional and/or behavioral health problems
Call 1-800-969-HELP (4357)
Outpatient /Therapeutic Support for Families
Our statewide Outpatient/Therapeutic Support for Families (OP/TSF) program is for children and teens who need more than one counseling session per week to make the necessary changes in their young lives. These are children who haven’t been successful in traditional outpatient therapy or who are transitioning out of a higher level of care, such as a residential treatment center or a hospital. Care is primarily provided out of the office— in the family’s home, the child’s school, a community center, and/or anywhere the family feels comfortable. OP/TSF clinicians work in teams of two. The lead therapist spends about five hours per week of intensive therapy meeting both with the family and the child—sometimes separately and sometimes together. Another clinician meets with the child for about five hours per week and is focused on reinforcing positive behavioral change. The timeframe for this level of care is usually nine to 12 months.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
Most every parent has experienced a young child’s occasional temper tantrum. But when meltdowns, testing limits, throwing things, hitting, and shoving begin to make life impossible, it’s time for an intervention. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), now available statewide through DGS, can help. It’s a short-term, evidence-based treatment in use for more than 30 years. In PCIT, both parent and child participate in treatment together. As parents learn and practice effective parenting skills, children’s behavior improves; together, the parent and child have a better relationship. PCIT is typically for children ages 2-7 with moderate to severe behavioral problems.
Therapeutic Classroom Support Services
In addition to being in schools, DGS clinicians are also in some special classrooms. These therapeutic classrooms are for students who aren’t functioning well in a typical school setting. It may be trauma, attention issues, behavioral or conduct problems, an Autism spectrum disorder, depression, anxiety, or some combination of these that is causing distress in the classroom for a student. Our therapists are there for them with evidenced-based, structured, therapeutic support so that children can realize success, both in their learning and relationships, and ultimately a brighter future.
Family-Based Mental Health Services
The Family-Based Mental Health Services program (FBMHS) at DGS provides care for children and families with the most complicated behavioral health needs. Children who benefit from FBMHS are usually at risk for out-of-home placement such as a hospital, residential treatment center, or a correctional facility. For children receiving FBMHS, a team of DGS clinicians is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week to provide care in the child’s home and community. Care includes behavioral health treatment for the child, medication management, individual therapy, family therapy, and school and community support. The goal of FBMHS is to help the family develop a strong set of supports including school, church, neighborhood, and friend --to help the family become healthy and strong and to serve as resources in times of crisis. FBMHS usually lasts about eight months after which the family typically steps down to a less intense type of therapy.
Outpatient Counseling
Outpatient counseling is also called “talk therapy” or just “therapy.” It’s a process of courageous conversations with a trained counselor that help children, teens, and their parents or guardians in various difficult situations. Some children need to heal from the effects of a traumatic event, abuse, neglect, or family breakdown. Others need help to overcome anxiety, depression, or other types of mental health concerns. Still more are facing bullying, attention issues, or other behavioral problems in school.
Our clinicians are focused on helping children to heal and learn constructive ways to deal with problems or issues. Typically, children and teens see their therapist once a week for a 50-minute appointment. At the beginning of treatment, the counselor and the child work together to create an individualized treatment plan with specific goals. On average, an entire course of treatment lasts about four months. In addition to the weekly sessions, counselors connect with the child’s parents/guardians and family members to provide services and consult with the child’s school as needed.
Each child’s therapist is part of a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians offering consultation, advice, and review of each case. For more complex problems, psychiatric services are added as an important part of treatment. When children have extremely difficult problems to overcome, medication can help with mood and behavior and put children back on track more quickly. Our psychiatry staff can determine if medication is necessary, prescribe it, follow up frequently to make sure the medicine is helpful, and watch for side effects. Our psychiatry staff also may help the children in our care in other ways such as with diagnostic testing.
School-Based Counseling Services
School-based services help improve students’ attendance, classroom behavior, and academic performance. Our school-based clinicians listen, guide, and encourage students while advocating on their behalf. Clinicians facilitate individual, group, and family counseling sessions, and collaborate with teachers and school staff to develop the tools to recognize and address effects of trauma that might be misunderstood as misbehavior, acting out, or simply “being bad”. Our school-based clinicians view themselves as one component of a larger team comprised of families, teachers, administrators, and support staff working together to meet students’ behavioral health needs.
Community-Based Trauma Support Services
Our community-based trauma support services are available where children are when they’re not in school, such as Boys and Girls Clubs, and PAL Centers. Here, our therapists get to know the children and provide evidenced-based mental health services to them and their families on an as needed basis. Therapists consult with the child’s school as needed and work closely with the center staff to instill a trauma-informed environment. Our approach is designed to have a multiplier effect—with each child we serve and each adult we train, we make an impact on every child. Ultimately, Delaware, as a whole, will become more trauma-informed.
Currently, trauma support services and therapeutic classroom support services are provided in Boys and Girls Clubs in Smyrna, Dover, Dagsboro, Laurel, Love Creek, and Rehoboth Beach; PAL Centers of New Castle County; Indian River, Seaford, Caesar Rodney, Milford, Woodbridge, and Christina School Districts ; Kingswood Academy; Polytech High School; Academy of Dover; Kumba Academy; Frederick Douglass Elementary School and Carver Academy.
Outpatient Counseling Referral Form
Download our fillable PDF and email to intake@delawareguidance.org
“I felt very distressed the first time I contacted the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy therapist. It was embarrassing to go out to the store or church with my son because of his behavior. When he played, he was rough. If I asked him to hand me a toy, he would have a temper tantrum. He also threw things around and got angry frequently.
For the first time, when I got to DGS I felt that I was being helped and I was able to breathe.
At first, when I was told I had to play with my son for five minutes every day, I did not believe it would improve his behavior. However, he looks forward to the five minutes we spend together playing because during that time, he feels that he is the most important person in the world. The special play time makes a big difference.
The program teaches you how to play and get closer to your children. I follow my child’s lead during special play time and I let him take the initiative. Sometimes I just repeat what he is saying instead of insisting on getting an answer. By doing this, it encourages him to continue talking about what interests him.
I also found that if I allow him to lead during our special play time, he later seems to listen better to my requests. I realized that if I want to see changes in my son, I have to make changes in myself as well. “
“Thank you so much! You’re an amazing counselor!!
XXXXX is so comfortable with you. Your God sent and I’m so happy you were brought to us!!!
