Intensive In-Home
What is Intensive In-Home?
Intensive In-Home (IIH) is a therapeutic service designed for children experiencing serious emotional or behavioral challenges that put them at risk of being removed from their homes. The goal is to strengthen families and help youth remain safely at home by providing structured, trauma-informed care in their natural environments.
How Does It Work?
A team of licensed clinicians and trained staff works directly with the child and their family in the home and community several times a week. Services include therapy, crisis support, and skill-building, all tailored to the child’s unique needs. Treatment typically lasts 4–6 months and gradually tapers as the child and family gain stability and confidence.
Program Highlights
Overview and Accessibility
Intensive In-Home services are available to children in Catawba, Iredell, Mecklenburg, and Rowan counties who are at risk of out-of-home placement or are transitioning back home from a higher level of care. This trauma-informed program is designed for youth whose emotional or behavioral needs go beyond what outpatient or school-based services can manage.
Service Model and Delivery
A team of licensed therapists and qualified professionals provides care directly in the child’s home and community. Using evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), the team delivers several hours of support each week. Services include crisis response, emotional and social skill-building, caregiver coaching, and regular progress monitoring.
Program Timeline and Structure
Treatment typically lasts 4 to 6 months, with intensity decreasing as the child and family make progress. The schedule is flexible and tailored to each family’s needs, ensuring consistent support while promoting independence. The program emphasizes gradual transition and sustainability, helping families build long-term coping strategies and connect with community resources for housing, food, clothing, and other essentials.
Meet Elijah
Elijah was five years old when he joined our Intensive In-Home program. He had been diagnosed with autism and struggled with communication and behavior. He didn’t talk much and often showed anger through yelling and tantrums. After losing his biological parents, he was adopted by his uncle and split time between two homes. He wasn’t in school at first, but with help from his therapists, he started attending. His behavior was severe initially, but he improved and was able to stay at school longer each day. Eventually, he moved into a day treatment program where he could go to school full time.
As Elijah grew, his behavior became more manageable and his communication improved. His therapists helped his parents work together better, which made a big difference. Just before turning six, Elijah was discharged into a lower level of care. His autism diagnosis was removed, and he transitioned into outpatient therapy. He learned how to talk about his feelings, show empathy, and even taught breathing techniques to his therapists. Elijah’s progress shows how much a child can grow with the right support.
Child’s name and photo have been changed for his protection, but his story is very real.
Intensive In-Home FAQs
What specific services are included in the Intensive In-Home program?
Our program includes crisis response and resolution, establishing stability in the home with an emphasis on keeping families together, skill building (interpersonal social skills, communication, intra-personal development, living skills, parenting skills, and more), and making connections to needed community resources for food, utilities, housing, clothing, and other presenting needs.
What is the average length of treatment, how often do families meet with the team, and who provides the interventions?
The average length of treatment is 4-6 months. Families meet with a member of the four-person intensive in-home team 3-4 times per week. A team of licensed therapists and qualified professionals provide Cognitive Behavioral Therapy interventions.
Who is eligible for the program?
The program is designed for youth and families whose issues are unmanageable in outpatient, school-based, or behavioral program settings. It is also for youth at risk of (or currently in) an out-of-home placement, with reunification being imminent.