Screening and eligibility for Medicaid recipients to qualify for the Autism Benefit giving access to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy.

*Applied Behavior Therapy focuses on improving specific behaviors, such as social skills, communication, reading, and academics as well as adaptive learning skills, such as fine motor dexterity, hygiene, grooming, domestic capabilities, punctuality, and job competence.

The Bangor School-Based Health Center, located within Bangor Middle School, provides a full range of health care services for youth ages 5 to 21 who live in or attend school in Bangor. Our center offers primary and preventive care, comprehensive health assessments, immunizations, treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, health education, and mental health counseling—all at no cost, with parent or guardian consent. Insurance information may be collected and billed to help support the program; however, there is no charge to patients. Services are delivered by a team of licensed medical and mental health professionals, available year-round, and with additional counseling offered at South Walnut Elementary.

This program is proudly funded through a joint grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Department of Education, and has been sponsored by us (VBCMH) since 2008.

Learn More

Case Management helps youth living with serious mental health conditions connect to the care, resources, and support they need. A VBCMH Case Manager works alongside both the youth and their caregiver or parent to create a plan that supports their goals—whether that’s finding the right medical care, accessing community programs, effective learning strategies, or managing daily needs.

*Case Management also serves youth who have additional challenges, such as substance use concerns, both mental illness and developmental disabilities, or medical conditions that make them more vulnerable. When special needs are identified, our staff works closely with other professionals to make sure the youth's service plan is well-coordinated.

Care Coordination services are here to connect youth to the right care, at the right time. At Van Buren Community Mental Health, we collaborate closely with healthcare providers, community resources, and your support network to ensure that your child’s mental, physical, and social needs are fully addressed.

Whether it’s scheduling appointments, sharing important information, or guiding you through complex systems, like finding resources and benefits, our VBCMH team is dedicated to making care organized, accessible, and focused on your family’s recovery and well-being.

Community Support Services (CLS) are designed to provide personalized, hands-on assistance to help youth thrive at home and in the community. Our trained VBCMH staff work closely with youth to help them build positive mental health and develop the skills they need to succeed in school and life. We support daily routines such as staying organized, managing time, practicing self-care, and maintaining healthy habits. We also assist with learning coping skills, building positive relationships, and staying on track with schoolwork and extracurricular activities. Our goal is to help youth develop the tools they need to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially.

Whether the need is short-term or ongoing, our services are flexible and available during the day, evening, or weekends. We work closely with the youth's care team to ensure a coordinated, holistic approach that is tailored to their goals, your family's goals, and promotes independence, stability, and overall well-being.

Family Intervention Services (FIS) is a program that helps young people with mental health issues or serious emotional problems, and their families. FIS is for families who have tried regular therapy, but it hasn’t worked for them.

FIS works with families to help them use their own strengths and resources, so parents and caregivers can give their child a healthy, supportive home. The main goal is to help families handle the stress of caring for a child with mental health or emotional needs, and to help these young people become as independent as possible.

Who Can Get FIS Help?

• The child or youth must be under 21 years old. (If the family is getting Infant Mental Health or Parent Education services, the adult caregiver might be the main customer.)
• The child or family must live in Van Buren County, and the child must have Medicaid. (For childcare support, the childcare center must be in Van Buren County.)
• The youth must have a main mental health diagnosis (not just a learning or developmental disability, or a substance use problem). For Infant Mental Health, the caregiver might have a mental health diagnosis that puts the child at risk for emotional problems. Parent Education is for families with children 12 or younger, to help stop or slow down serious emotional problems. Very young children (age 0–3) can be referred through special screenings.
• The youth is at risk of being placed outside the home because of serious and ongoing problems or symptoms.
• The child or youth has several social or emotional needs shown on special screening tools (like MichiCANS or DECA for ages 0–6).
• The family or youth has not done well with less intensive or regular services.

Our Hospital Care Management services help youth and their family or caregiver(s) during and after a hospital stay for a mental health crisis. We work closely with youth, their loved ones, and hospital staff to ensure they have the support they need for a safe and smooth transition back into the community, school, or their home.

From creating a follow-up care plan to connecting youth with ongoing mental health and wellness services, our goal is to reduce the risk of future hospitalizations and help them to continue to recover in a supportive environment for a bright future.

Infant Mental Health services provide parent-infant support and intervention in the home or community for families where the parent’s well-being, life circumstances, or the infant’s unique needs may affect the parent-infant bond. These services focus on strengthening healthy attachment and supporting the infant’s social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive development. By working together with parents or primary caregivers, we help build nurturing relationships, foster resilience, and create a strong foundation for the infant’s lifelong mental health and wellness.

Outpatient Therapy (OT) is available to youth who need support with behavioral health, wellness, or a substance use disorder and/or co-occurring (dual diagnosis) disorders. Through outpatient therapy services, youth receive a safe and supportive space to work through life’s challenges, improve their well-being, and reach personal goals.

Therapy can be provided one-on-one, with the family, or in a group setting designed just for youth—depending on what best supports their needs. Skilled VBCMH Youth Therapists use evidence-based approaches to help youth manage stress, build coping skills, strengthen relationships, and navigate mental health concerns.

At VBCMH, our Parent Support Partner Services connect families with trained parents or caregivers who have personal experience navigating the behavioral health system for their own children. These partners use their lived experience to provide understanding, encouragement, and practical guidance to parents and guardians facing similar challenges.

Parent Support Partners work alongside you as part of your child’s care team, helping you build advocacy skills, understand available services, and find resources that meet your family’s needs. Through one-on-one support, shared problem-solving, and mentorship, Parent Support Partners help strengthen family resilience, foster hope, and empower you to play an active role in your child’s recovery and overall well-being.

Our VBCMH Psychiatric Care team provides compassionate, professional support for youth with ongoing mental health needs. Our psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners offer thorough evaluations, medication management, and regular follow-up to help youth feel their best. We work closely with the caregiver or parent and the youth's broader health care team, from therapy to case management and other supports—so a youth's treatment plan is fully connected, personalized, and easy to navigate.

Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) services for children and youth focus on building the skills and confidence needed to succeed at home, in school, and in the community. Through fun, goal-focused groups and one-on-one coaching, we help youth practice important daily skills—like staying organized, managing emotions, working with others, and building healthy routines. We also support school success, positive peer relationships, community involvement, and connections with natural supports. PSR is centered on each child’s strengths and goals, and works alongside therapy, psychiatric care, and case management—so every step of their plan is practical, connected, and designed to help them grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.

Respite services give parents and primary caregivers short-term relief while ensuring children receive safe, supportive care. Designed to help caregivers recharge and reduce stress, respite can be provided in a variety of settings—including the youth's home, a foster or group home, a licensed respite facility, a youth camp, or the home of a trusted friend or relative.

Care is delivered by qualified providers under contract with VBCMH, and is available on an intermittent basis as outlined in the youth's person-centered plan. By providing temporary care, respite helps maintain the goal of children living in their natural community home, supports healthy family relationships, and gives caregivers the time they need to rest and focus on their own well-being.

Are your child’s behaviors difficult to manage?
Do you worry about your child feeling angry, sad, anxious, etc.?
Is your child struggling to cope?

You can meet with a Youth Intervention Screener, a VBCMH Master’s level clinician, who assists both youth, caregiver(s), and parents in completing age appropriate screening tools during a face-to-face appointment. Youth Intervention Screening is FREE and is available to youth ages 4 to 18 years old, residing or attending school in Van Buren County.

The Youth Intervention Screener will help link the family with the appropriate services and provide follow-up contacts.

Topics Addressed:
• Behavioral Concerns
• Anger/ Irritability
• Emotional Distress
• Suicidal Thinking
• Trauma
• Poor Coping Skills

DOWNLOAD YOUTH INTERVENTION SCREENING BROCHURE (ENGLISH)

DOWNLOAD YOUTH INTERVENTION SCREENING BROCHURE (SPANISH)

*This program is supported by funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Youth Peer Support (YPS) is a program available to support youth who are receiving mental health services. Youth Peer Support Specialists (YPSS) offer support and resources for youth with serious emotional disturbances (SED) who are receiving services in the community mental health system. The YPSS acts as a key member of the treatment team by working with youth one on one or in a group, supporting them in achieving goals through shared activities and interventions.

The YPSS encourages youth empowerment by sharing their personal story of resiliency and recovery, assisting youth in developing skills to improve their functioning and quality of life and working collaboratively with others involved in delivering the youth’s services.

Youth Peer Support Services breaks barriers related to feelings of loneliness, shame, stigma and low self-esteem through positive role modeling, wellness and recovery.

DOWNLOAD YOUTH PEER SUPPORT BROCHURE

Wraparound Services at VBCMH bring youth, their family (caregiver), and community partners together to build one plan that fits real life. Personally guided and family-driven, Wraparound focuses on strengths and culture while coordinating help across home, school, and other systems. A VBCMH Case Manager helps set goals, organize services, and creates a practical crisis plan—with regular check-ins to keep things on track.

Meetings can happen where it works for the youth—at home, at school, foster or group home, or in the community—and we lean on natural supports to build skills and stability. The goal is simple: help youth of all ages stay safely at home, excel at school, and thrive in the community.