WHAT IS THE YES WAIVER?
The Youth Empowerment Services Waiver is a 1915(c) Medicaid program that helps children and youth with serious mental, emotional and behavioral difficulties. The YES Waiver provides intensive services delivered within a strengths-based team planning process called Wraparound. Wraparound builds on family and community support and utilizes YES services to help build your family’s natural support network and connection with your community. YES services are family-centered, coordinated and effective at preventing out-of-home placement and promoting lifelong independence and self-defined success.
A Wraparound facilitator will meet with youth and their family weekly to work on creating a Wraparound Plan. The Wraparound Plan is also developed with help from your Child and Family Team, which meets once a month. The team includes you, your child and people who are important in your child’s life. This may be professionals, family, friends, coaches or teachers who want to help your child meet their goals. Together, the team develops a plan of care to meet the specific needs and goals of your child and family using YES services, community resources and family strengths.
Our Goals
- Reducing out-of-home placements and inpatient psychiatric treatment by all child-serving agencies;
- Providing a complete continuum of community-based services and supports;
- Ensuring families have access to parent support through family partners and other flexible non-traditional support services as identified in a family-centered planning process;
- Preventing entry into the foster care system and relinquishment of parental custody; and
- Help to improve the clinical and functional outcomes of children and adolescents.
Services
In addition to the services that are already offered under the Children's Mental Health Program at HOTBHN, the following are services that YES waiver can offer dependent on availability and need of the child:
- Adaptive Aids & Supports
- Community Living Supports
- Family Supports
- Minor Home Modifications
- Non-Medical Transportation
- Paraprofessional Services
- Professional Services
- Respite
- Supportive Family-Based Alternatives
- Transitional Services
FAQs
Who is Eligible for the YES WAIVER?
Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network will assess your child for eligibility.
Demographic Criteria
- Be between 3 and 18 years of age;
- Reside in McLennan, Falls, Hill, Limestone, Freestone, or Bosque County; and
- Reside in a non-institutional setting with the child's or adolescent's Legally Authorized Representative; or in the child's or adolescent's own home or apartment, if legally emancipated.
Clinical Criteria
- Have serious mental, emotional and behavioral difficulties.
- Have a qualifying mental health diagnosis as the primary diagnosis
- Be at risk of being placed outside of their home due to their mental health needs.
- Meet the criteria to be in a psychiatric hospital.
Financial - Be eligible for Medicaid — parent's income does not apply.
How long does the program last?
The average length of time in the YES Waiver is 11–18 months. Each youth’s needs will determine duration of care.
Who Do I Contact About Receiving Services?
Parents or legally authorized representatives of eligible children or youth who are interested in YES Waiver Services must first contact the Heart of Texas YES Waiver Inquiry Line at (254) 297-7002 to have their child added to the Inquiry List. Only a parent, guardian, or managing conservator may request that a youth be added to the list and assessed for YES Waiver services, unless the youth is legally emancipated.
YES Waiver services are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the date the child is added to the YES Waiver Inquiry List.
For additional information or questions about the YES Waiver program, community partners or parents can call (254) 752-7889.
The Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver has approved Amendment Four, allowing two new services to the current waiver service array. The amendment is regarding Supported Employment and Employment Assistance, as well as the HCBS transition plan. For further explanation, the amendment can be found at www.dshs.state.tx.us/mhsa/yes/. A paper copy will be available upon request.
The Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver has approved Amendment Seven Draft Final, allowing The YES program to provide home- and community-based services to children ages 3-18 at risk of institutionalization and/or out-of-home placement due to their serious emotional disturbance. For further explanation, the amendment can be found at https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mhsa/yes/. A paper copy will be available upon request.
The Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Waiver has requested an amendment to our existing 1915(c) Waiver that allows The YES program to provide home- and community-based services to children ages 3-18 that are at risk of institutionalization and/or out-of-home placement due to their serious emotional disturbance. For further explanation, the amendment can be found at https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/mhsa/yes/. The amendment is titled YES Amendment 9 DRAFT. A paper copy will be available upon request.