"While we try to teach our children about life, our children teach us what life is all about".
- Angela Schwindt
Our Programs
Direct Service Provider (DSP)
AYFS is a Meet Me Where I Am (MMWIA) direct service provider. The program is voluntary, time-limited, and designed to address behaviors that are putting a child's placement at risk. The goal of the program is to prevent hospitalization, reduce the need of higher levels of care, or to assist a child in transitioning to a lower level of care (e.g. from foster care back to biological family). Our program provides in-home, school, and community services that embrace the Child and Family Team (CFT) and Arizona Practice models. A Behavioral Health Technician (BHT), also called a Behavior Coach, works one-on-one with children, collaborates with caregivers, and works in partnership with CFT members. AYFS behavior coaching follows a Positive Behavioral Support model for service delivery thus incorporating strength-based, family-focused, culturally sensitive, and behaviorally driven interventions.
STARSS (Stabilization Treatment and Regulatory Support Services)
STARSS is an in-home and community-based direct support program for consumers ranging in age from 0 – 17. Services are aimed at the assessment and immediate stabilization of acute symptoms of mental illness and emotional distress or in response to acts of abuse/neglect. The program is organized and staffed to provide the availability of services 24/7 (medical necessity must be indicated) for a limited duration (30 – 90 days) to stabilize acute behavioral symptoms, evaluate treatment needs, and develop plans to meet the needs of the persons served.
The purpose of the STARSS Program is to assess for services upon transition and support the high intensity/high need client who has an immediate need for services and support to remain in their home environment. The goal is to utilize direct data/observations, assessment tools, and psycho-education to establish a behavior plan that is transferable to the longer-term provider.
Guidelines for Referrals:
- Must meet criteria for a MMWIA referral AND
- Have shown repeated or extended use of crisis services or police department; Danger to Others (DTO) and/or Danger to Self (DTS) behaviors; multiple hospitalizations or incarcerations in 90 days; and/or is at immediate risk for disruption of living environment without support.
- Parent or guardian has expressed an interest and ability to engage with STARSS service providers and program goals.
- HNCM Clinical Director has assessed and approved the appropriateness of need and the referral for the STARSS program (not in lieu of MMWIA services).
What to Expect:
- Once a referral has been accepted into the STARSS program, the STARSS Coordinator will make contact with the family within 24 hours, an intake will be conducted in 1-2 business days and support services will begin immediately (dependent on availability of the family and client).
- At 30-45 days, initial assessments will be completed, and a preliminary behavior plan will have been established including recommendations for support services to engage with and referrals to be made before the 90-day mark.
- After 45-60 days of stabilization, the client and family will begin the transition phase, which will include collaborating with the agencies that will continue to carry out the behavior plan, if appropriate.
- At 60-90 days, the case will transition to the next provider and capacity opens for a new STARSS referral.
Do you have any job openings?
Please click here for any available job openings. AYFS strives to have our workforce reflect the population we serve; therefore, bilingual individuals are encouraged to apply.
How do I refer to your services?
To schedule an initial intake or appointment or reschedule an appointment, call our main office line: 602-277-4833 Monday- Friday 8am- 5pm
What services do you offer?
- In-home Coaching Services: developing and implementing interventions to address various client needs within the family culture
- Medication Services: offering psychiatric evaluations, medication management and monitoring to assist in emotional and behavioral stabilization.
- Transition from Hospital or Detention Facilities: helping in discharge planning and implementation of necessary interventions to aid in transition.
- Functional Behavioral Assessment: an observation and problem-solving process for identifying client needs.
- Transportation: facilitating client and family needs in order to promote attainment of service goals.
- Case Management: collaborate with families to plan and coordinate services to meet an individual's and family's comprehensive needs, assist in resourcing with the community, clinical care coordination between resources within and outside the agency.
- Independent Living Skills: aiding in the transition to adulthood through various ILS skill-building activities.
- Crisis Management: identification of an efficient crisis plan thus reducing the need for crisis team involvement through proactive planning and intervention
- Crisis Management: identification of an efficient crisis plan thus reducing the need for crisis team involvement through proactive planning and intervention
- School-based Services: developing and aiding teaching staff in the utilization of effective interventions to address problematic behaviors.
- Parenting Support: psycho-educational focus and support on increasing positive parenting.
- Community Outings: social skill building and support in public settings.
- Counseling Services: providing individual, family, and group counseling focused on family/relational issues, trauma, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders
For requirements, click here
Quality Service Provider (QSP)
AYFS is also a Quality Service Provider, offering counseling and medication services through our centrally located outpatient clinic. Individual, family, and group counseling are provided to assist a child and family in making progress toward identified treatment goals. Psychiatric services are available to those individuals in need of further evaluation as well as emotional and behavioral stabilization as part of their overall treatment. In addition, Case Managers and youth and Family Support workers can be assigned to help with the coordination of service delivery. Connecting families with natural and community supports is another key component to our clinical services and allows for improvement of quality of life and maintaining behavioral progress towards goals.
AYFS is committed to family-centered interventions and culturally sound practices designed with short-term milestones and long-term independence as a goal. Transfer of appropriate skills and connection with natural supports is encouraged and embedded within the service delivery. The AYFS staff is culturally sensitive and recognizes the value of diversity as a source of strength in the recovery process.
Services Provided
- In-home Coaching Services: developing and implementing interventions to address various client needs within the family culture
- Medication Services: offering psychiatric evaluations, medication management and monitoring to assist in emotional and behavioral stabilization.
- Transition from Hospital or Detention Facilities: helping in discharge planning and implementation of necessary interventions to aid in transition.
- Functional Behavioral Assessment: an observation and problem-solving process for identifying client needs.
- Transportation: facilitating client and family needs in order to promote attainment of service goals.
- Case Management: collaborate with families to plan and coordinate services to meet an individual's and family's comprehensive needs; assist in resourcing with the community; clinical care coordination between resources within and outside the agency.
- Independent Living Skills: aiding in the transition to adulthood through various ILS skill building activities.
- Crisis Management: identification of an efficient crisis plan thus reducing the need for crisis team involvement through proactive planning and intervention
- School-based Services: developing and aiding teaching staff in the utilization of effective interventions to address problematic behaviors.
- Parenting Support: psycho-educational focus and support on increasing positive parenting.
- Community Outings: social skill building and support in public settings.
- Counseling Services: providing individual, family, and group counseling focused on family/relational issues, trauma, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders