Starting Services

The AK Child & Family team understands that seeking help for your child can be a challenging experience and we are here to support you during this process.

If you or your child at immediate risk of harm to themselves or others please utilize our Crisis Interventions resources.

How to make a referral?

We ask that you place a referral in cooperation with the child’s guardian. You and/or the guardian can complete our Application and Release of Information forms that can be found using the buttons below.  Please make sure to include releases for yourself as well as any other relevant releases, for example for past mental health providers and / or psychiatric hospitals; any past evaluators; the child’s current school; as well as any agencies that are otherwise involved in the child’s life (for example, the Office of Children’s Services and / or Department of Juvenile Justice, ICWA). The AK Child & Family Admissions Department will use the completed release forms to obtain records for the child in effort to assist in the assessment process.

Residential Treatment Application

If you are seeking Residential Treatment for an adolescent needing a higher level of care, please complete our Residential Treatment Application and fill out the Release of Information form for all the necessary parties (each party will require an individual submission).

Community Programs Application

If you are seeking services though our Therapeutic Treatment Homes or our Home Based Services, contact the admissions office. Online application is COMING SOON!

Criteria for Admission

General criteria for AK Child & Family treatment programs includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• The child is age-appropriate.
  • For Residential level of care this includes children ages approximately 12-18.
  • For Treatment Foster Care and Home-Based levels of care this includes children ages approximately 3-21.

For the C.A.R.E.S program the focus is on the family system and providing support for the family in developing natural supports to cope with future stressors. This is the least intensive program, wherein the children typically stay in the home while the family system is provided services and supports to increase stability and reduce the potential for further disruption of the family.

For Homebased, Therapeutic Treatment Homes and Residential programs, a youth may qualify if the following criteria are present

• The youth is currently experiencing an emotional and / or behavioral disorder that has been diagnosed (the Intake Clinical Therapists of our Admissions Department are qualified to assess and diagnose).
• The symptoms have been present for at least 6 months and have significantly impacted functioning in at least one or more of the following areas: school, home, community.
• Additional emotional / behavioral health services are expected to help improve the condition of the youth or prevent regression.
• Outpatient interventions have been attempted and are unsuccessful and / or are not adequately addressing the clinical concerns for the youth.
• The youth must have the intellectual capacity to participate in treatment. Our minimal cognitive functioning criteria is a full scale IQ of at least 70.

What should be expected during the assessment process?

Once a complete referral is received (Application, release forms, as well as any clinical documentation available that speaks to the child’s emotional distress and history) an Intake Clinical Therapist will begin the assessment. For CARES program the assessment includes interviewing parent and youth, with collateral contacts as needed.  For Homebased, Therapeutic Treatment Home Services and Residential, the assessment includes interviews with the guardian, the child, the current treatment provider(s), as well as other sources as determined necessary. Upon its completion, recommendations will be made in regards to appropriate level of services. If services with AK Child & Family are recommended, an admission to the appropriate program will be scheduled. If other services are recommended outside the AK Child & Family system of care, these recommendations will be communicated to you and guardian to be considered.