Overview 

Your child will be scheduled within 24-hours of your initial contact with Strength for Change.  He or she will participate in a 1-1.5 hour clinical interview conducted by a Licensed Clinical Social Work or Licensed Professional Counselor.

Information received from your child will be cross referenced with information provided by you (the parent or guardian), the referring school, and other professionals who may be involved in the child’s care.

At the conclusion of your child’s mental health screening, you will be informed of the outcome regarding your child’s risk for suicide or violent behavior and related treatment needs.

Screening Outcomes 

Based on the your child’s level of emotional distress, history of mental health symptoms, scores on diagnostic questionnaires, and the presence of risk factors for suicide or violent behavior,  your child’s screening will result in one of the following outcomes:

Cleared to Return to School With No Further Actions Necessary.

Cleared to Return to School With Recommendations. Your child may need to participate in a full psychiatric evaluation, individual outpatient therapy, an intensive outpatient program, and/or a partial hospitalization program.

Not Cleared to Return to School.  Your child is in need of an immediate psychiatric evaluation must be taken to the local hospital emergency room.

The recommendation for an immediate psychiatric evaluation at a local hospital emergency room is made when a client is deemed to be at high risk for suicidal or violent behavior. In such cases a client is referred to the local hospital emergency room for a more comprehensive psychiatric evaluation conducted by a team of professionals including doctors, nurses, and mental health professionals. Upon completion of the hospital psychiatric evaluation, the client may be admitted into the hospital.

Confidentiality 

Your privacy and confidentiality are always our top priority.  Screening results and treatment recommendations are only disclosed to individuals for whom you have given us written permission to communicate with.  The only exception to this rule of confidentiality is in cases of child abuse and the risk for suicidal or homicidal behavior.

Fee, Billing, & Insurance 

Please contact our office at (973) 770-7600 for a list of fees.

In some cases, school districts or employers may contract with Strength for Change and pay the cost of a mandated mental health screening.

Clients seeking our mental health screening service on their own are responsible for payment at the time of service. Those with out-of-network insurance coverage are eligible for reimbursement based on their plan.  Clients are encouraged to speak to their insurance provider in determining the nature of their policy, proper protocol for submitting claims, and expected reimbursement rate.

Mental Health Screenings Includes: a 1-1.5-hour clinical interview, administration of several symptom questionnaires, and contact with all necessary third parties (school and other treatment providers, etc.) including a letter stating the evaluation findings and treatment recommendations.

Payment is required at the time of the screening unless it is being covered by the referring school district.