High Desert’s objective is to help seriously emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children to live successfully within families and communities.  The staff are trained to assist and support the treatment families in meeting the needs of the children. This is accomplished through the establishment of a therapeutic milieu in the home environment, advocacy in the community, and collaboration with a team approach.

Our services are rooted in current clinical research, with specific emphasis on the impact of trauma, child development, attachment and relationship-based interventions, and co-regulation. We serve children ages 1-18 who present with severe emotional and behavioral challenges with an average length of stay of 12-18 months. Discharge criteria is reviewed and evaluated every 30 days.  Primary funding for TFC is through Medicaid. 

Our program’s success is grounded in a collaborative multidisciplinary team approach and a strong commitment to our community partners.  We utilize a relationship based, family-focused treatment model that teaches children and youth how to live successfully in homes and communities. 

Licensing, Training and Support Services

The licensing process for TFC Parents takes between 60-120 days.  High Desert has a number of phases, starting with an initial screening.  The screening phase includes face to face interviews, reference checks, and extensive background checks.  A successful screening phase is followed by the formal application, training and homestudy phase.  High Desert’s pre-service training includes instruction on motivating through social reinforcement, active listening and supportive controls, strategies, problem solving skills, behavior management techniques, discipline strategies, cultural awareness and sensitivity, stress management, first aid, minimizing confrontation, working with biological parents, therapeutic crisis intervention, medications, and documentation proficiency. Following training, High Desert will conduct the comprehensive review of a home and family, known as the SAFE homestudy.  If a family is approved, the homestudy evaluator will recommend licensure.    After licensure, High Desert parents are matched with a child who is placed in their home.  There are twenty-four hour emergency services available to treatment families should problems arise after office hours.  A variety of other support services are provided to treatment parents, including therapeutic leave, treatment team meetings and twenty-four hours of in-service training per year.  High Desert provides its treatment parents reimbursement for their proficiency and dedication.