Children’s Unplanned Respite Program (ChURP)
Intermountain Centers for Human Development offers a Children’s Unplanned Respite Program (ChURP) in collaboration with Community Partnership of Southern Arizona to boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 11 years who are enrolled in the behavioral health system. The ChURP Program is part of a targeted initiative to improve availability and accessibility of community-based services for young children and will support implementation of the Arizona Vision for Children and its guiding principles.
Objective of Program
The objective of ChURP is to provide a safe and structured environment for young children in need of a brief unplanned respite placement, immediately upon request. Appropriate candidates and circumstances might include:
- A child whose crisis plan includes o a brief removal from the home;
- A child who has a confrontation with family member(s) that could become dangerous but doesn’t require hospitalization;
- A dually diagnosed (Emotionally Disabled/Developmentally Disabled) child whose behavior is not being de-escalated successfully by other interventions;
- A child in a behavioral health therapeutic home placement whose behaviors are escalating or who is encountering an unstable family situation;
- A child who requires a short term stepdown home environment between placements where other alternatives are unavailable.
Length and Provider of Services
Each placement is in an established behavioral health therapeutic home (formerly known as therapeutic foster care) with experienced Home Care Training to Home Care Client (HCTC) providers who are skilled in engaging young children, assisting with stabilization of behavior, and transitioning the children to an identified placement (home, group home, foster home.) The HCTC providers furnish unplanned respite for up to 7 days. Intermountain staff members provide case management to facilitate transition planning and coordination of services with the appropriate behavioral health network.
Coordination and Scope of Services
Referrals and treatment planning are coordinated with each of the behavioral health networks, family and other community providers involved in the child’s care. Within 24 hours of placement, or the next business day, the network is contacted regarding planning for the child. Each Child Family Team identifies treatment and service needs on the Individual Service Plan which includes identification of the child’s next placement, a crisis plan and a clear timeframe.
Ongoing treatment coordination will occur through participation in Child Family Team meetings and daily contact with the network case manager assigned. Intermountain assists each child in maintaining continuity with community providers including school, medical, court, therapists or other providers.
Referral Requirements
Referrals may be made by behavioral health networks,
child welfare services, child family teams, and other
local agencies, provided that the child is enrolled in the
behavioral health system.
The referring individual or network is required to
provide the “Informed Consent for Treatment” form,
accompanied by the “Initial Assessment,” prior to a
child’s placement in ChURP.
Referral Contact
Phone: (520) 721-1887, ext. 24 or e-mail: churpinfo@ichd.net