Childrens Waiver Home Page
Children's Mental Health Waiver 
The Children’s Mental Health Waiver program ended its first year of implementation on 6/30/07. As a result of some barriers that have been identified and encountered, an evaluation of the program is currently underway in hopes of making changes that can and will support more success in the upcoming year.
This website will be used to share those changes with families, providers, and other interested persons, so check back!
What is the Waiver All About?
CLICK HERE to see how the waiver can work.
CLICK HERE to view our newsletter.
Waiver Goals and Objectives
- Keep youth with serious emotional disturbance that need mental health treatment in their home communities with their parents/families involved in all aspects of their treatment - preventing custody relinquishment.
- Strengthening families’ skills to support the physical, emotional, social, and educational needs of their children.
- Provide non-clinical mental health support services as part of the overall children's mental health system of care.
- Reduce, and in some cases, prevent the length of psychiatric hospital stays.
Youth to be Served
- Are between the ages of 4-20
- Meet the definition of serious emotional disturbance
- Meet at least one Medicaid criteria for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization
- Have a CASII composite score of 20-27
- Have a DSM Axis I or ICD diagnosis
- WESP screening for kids ages 4-6
- Recommendation from qualified mental health provider that youth could be safely served in their home community with waiver services.
- Are financially eligible for Medicaid based on their own resources
Youth served by the waiver program receive all available Medicaid services while participating in the waiver program, in addition to the specific services offered through the waiver.
Waiver Services Offered through the Program
Waiver services are non-clinical services provided as outlined in an Individual Service Plan meant to support and enhance mental health services provided by local/regional practitioners, both public and private.
- Family Care Coordination - services that advocate for and support youth and family in utilizing the Children's Mental Health Waiver to the fullest benefit possible.
- Family Training and Support - training and services for individuals (family members, neighbors, friends, companions) who provide uncompensated care, training, guidance, companionship, or support for the youth served.
- Individualized Child Training and Support - one-on-one services and activities identified in the Individual Service plan to support and enhance the overall service goals (may include such things as recreational activities, exposure of youth to new ideas and experiences, skills training specific to age and behavioral needs). Provision of this service will also allow for some relief of the primary caregiver (service units have a set limit)
CLICK HERE to review specific service definitions.
As part of the current program evaluation, consideration is being given to adding respite care to the menu of services offered through the waiver.
Implementation Plan
The initial 3-year waiver period (7/1/06-6/30/09) can serve 175 eligible children/youth. Waiver services will be available to all Wyoming’s SAGE Initiative pilot sites.
- Year 1 - 50 children in Laramie, Natrona, and Fremont counties. Services are also available in Teton and Albany counties as part of the SAGE Initiative.
- Year 2 - 100 children served in Sweetwater, Campbell, Park, Laramie, Natrona, Fremont, and Teton counties
- Year 3 - 175 children served with services continuing to expand to all counties and care regions as dictated by youth and families making application for services
CLICK HERE to review regional service map.
Application Process
- An application process is required to request services from the Children's Mental Health Waiver. This process involves the following documents:
Welcome document
Outlines the steps in the waiver application process and provides contact information for questions.
Waiver Application flowchart
Provides a visual step-by-step in making application to the Children’s Mental Health Waiver
Service Application
Form to make application to the Children’s Mental Health Waiver program
CASII AdministratorsSpecifically for families of youth ages 7-20 – list of individuals certified to administer the CASII tool in areas where waiver services are available
Developmental Preschool Map
Specifically for families with children ages 4-6 – map to identify and contact the local Developmental preschool in your community to obtain an age appropriate social emotional screening for application to the waiver
Benefit Specialist Contact Information Names and contact information for DFS Benefit Specialists who work with families re: financial eligibility for waiver services
CASII Explanation
Overview of the Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Index to explain the tool and how it is used to help the waiver program establish clinical eligibility for services
CASII Processing Guidelines
Reference for CASII administrators about how CASII results are shared with youth, families, and mental health clinicians
Assistance in completing the application process is available through the Waiver Program
To request provider applications as well as additional information on a specific topic, please contact:
Children’s Mental Health Waiver Program Manager
307-777-6494
