Video 7: What To Do While Waiting For Services?

Hi! My name is Tynika Brown and I’m with the PASS Study at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Today, we are going to discuss what to do while you wait for services. Unfortunately, due to the high demand for care, seeking behavioral health services can result in long waitlists. This can be frustrating, however, there are things that you can do to help your child in the meantime. This video will discuss tips on navigating your child’s school community, primary care practice, and insurance provider. In addition, the video will offer tools to use at home, and a list of resources for you to explore. Let’s get started!

To begin, take a moment to think of what you can do as a parent to help your child perform well in school? If you want, you can pause the video, grab a piece of paper and a pen, and write down a few ideas. *pause* Okay, great! Let’s get into some of these topics!

Building a relationship with your child’s school community is an important strategy to help your child do well in school. The school community includes your child’s teachers, school counselors, principals, and anyone who has an impact on your child’s day-to-day activities. It is important to attend parent-teacher meetings and contact school professionals when you feel there is a need. When meeting with the teacher, some good discussion topics include asking for the teacher’s observations , pointing out the things the teacher is doing to help , and discussing ways you and the teacher can work together to help your child, and finding out the best ways to communicate with the teacher. Be sure to ask about all available resources that address behavioral health concerns when meeting with teachers and schools. It is also important for you to advocate for your child’s educational rights. It is beneficial for children with ADHD to have either a 504 plan or an individualized education program (IEP). For more information on 504 plans and IEPs, please go to the PASS Study website to view video 4 and 5 in the PASS video series.

When meeting with your child’s primary care provider, it is strongly recommended that you discuss your child’s academic, social, and emotional needs. These providers may be able to point you to resources in the practice or the community to obtain behavior therapy and family support. If you can, we recommend you make a special appointment to have this discussion, as regular check-ups and well-visits may not offer enough time.

After meeting with your child’s doctor, make sure to keep all important medical documents such as their medical or psychological evaluations and records of family history in one place. This information can be of great help when you are able to get services.

While waiting for services, reach out to your insurance company to learn about coverage for behavioral health appointments.

Contact numbers are usually found on the back of your insurance card. You can also use website search tools to see which providers are covered under your insurance and determine the costs involved in obtaining services.  Your insurance company may be able to help you search for providers who specialize in working with children who have been diagnosed with ADHD, provide behavior therapy, and help children in school. When you find a provider, always ask their cost of service and see if there are any copays for sessions.

REMINDER: Insurance companies might not let you see more than one behavioral health provider at a time, BUT you can be on several waitlists at the same time!!

To strengthen the relationship with your child and improve your child’s behavior, it is important to take time to...

• Catch your child being good
• Observe and praise your child frequently
• Make time for play. For older children, participate in your child’s favorite activities with them, even if they aren’t your favorite. The purpose is to show you just want to spend time with your child and learn about what they love to do and who they are.
• Organize documents: These include: report cards, written observations from home and school (from teachers other guardians)

While waiting for services, it is important to reach out for help right away if you have a concern about your child’s safety or that your child might hurt someone else. If you have a concern, you can call 911 or go to the emergency room of your local hospital. Other options are to call or go to a local crisis center. or the clinic where you are waiting to obtain services.

Here are a couple websites resources that may be of some help. If you want you can pause the video and take a picture.

Here are a few book resources that you may be interested in while you are waiting. If you would like you can pause the video to take a picture.

I know we talked about a lot but here are a few key notes to take away with you.

1. Build a relationship with your child’s school community
2. Talk to your child’s primary care provider to make sure you have all your documents. Also don’t forget to ask PCP about resources in your community.
3. Get in to contact with your insurance company to find out what is covered and how much your co-pay will be.
4. Strengthen your relationship with your child through age-appropriate play and interaction, allowing your child to lead the activity.

Thanks for watch this video and we hope this video has given you some ideas about what to do while you are waiting for services for your child. We encourage you to view other videos in the series as well.