By HannaMei Levine
Intensive Family Services (IFS) is a wraparound program for children and teens, ages 4-18. As the term implies, “wraparound” programs seek to provide comprehensive and individualized services to youth and their families targeting specific mental health needs as well as other family stressors such as split households or educational challenges. According to Program Director Chelsea Prout, LCSW, “We do address specific symptoms or behaviors; we’re really looking to figure out what’s underneath driving those behaviors and symptoms.”
Figuring out the underlying cause of these symptoms and behaviors can help families discover long-term solutions. Chelsea states that “A big piece of [IFS] is also working towards sustainability so that it’s not always that the kid is doing fine as long as they’re in some kind of treatment.”
IFS was created with a similar framework to San Diego Center for Children’s WrapWorks program. However, IFS only works with families who have private insurance or are interested in paying out of pocket. Once open to services, each family gets a whole team of people to support them: a clinician, a youth coach, and a parent coach.
The clinician facilitates weekly meetings, performs assessments, and coordinates care with other service providers. The youth coach acts as a mentor and advocate for the youth and helps them build skills based on their personal goals. Similarly, the parent coach provides emotional support and guidance around parenting skills to caregivers. All of these people make up the family’s IFS team and work together to provide the best care possible.
What makes IFS unique is that it is the only wraparound program in San Diego that accepts private insurance and is contracted with school districts to provide services through a youth’s IEP. In that way, IFS seeks to fill the gap in services to kids who would not otherwise be receiving that level of treatment. In addition to school districts, IFS also receives referrals from other services providers and self-referring families.
IFS is a “true wraparound program,” wrapping families with the support of a whole team of people who really care. The program not only provides services targeting specific mental health needs but also addresses other family stressors. IFS strives to provide the best services possible and make a lasting impact on the lives of children and families all over.
About Chelsea Prout, LCSW
Chelsea Prout, LCSW is the Program Director of Intensive Family Services (IFS) at San Diego Center for Children. She is a licensed clinical social worker and has been working at the Center since 2013. Chelsea is a San Diego native and enjoys traveling in her freetime.
For more information about Intensive Family Services (IFS), please call (858) 569-2135 or visit https://www.centerforchildren.org/our-services/outpatient/intensive-family-services/.