CIRCLE Programs
Please click below for a brief description and eligibility requirements for any of the five CIRCLE products.
- Comprehensive CIRCLE Program
- CIRCLE Extended Diagnostic Consultation
- CIRCLE Brief Diagnostic Consultation
- CIRCLE Family-to-Family Program
- CIRCLE Teen Leadership Council (TLC)
The CIRCLE program offers comprehensive, highly coordinated and individualized community-based care to low-income children and families with significant mental health needs. The intensive family-driven treatment approach employed by CIRCLE involves creation of an Individual Care Planning Team made up of: the family, a CIRCLE Clinical Care Manager, the DCF worker, and any other providers and informal supports identified by the child’s family. The team defines a ‘mission’ for the child and interventions for the family are chosen based on understanding the family culture, needs and strengths. These interventions may include: social and educational supports; mental health and substance abuse evaluation and treatment; and wraparound services.
Eligibility Requirements:
- MassHealth eligible
- 3-17 ½ years old
- Live in towns covered by Malden and Cambridge Area DCF offices
- IQ of 70 or above
- Symptoms of severe emotional impairment for the past 6 months
- At least one caregiver willing to be part of the Care Planning Process
- Family willing for child to become a member of Neighborhood Health Plan
CIRCLE Extended Diagnostic Consultation
The EDCS model is a subcomponent of the comprehensive CIRCLE model. This intensive diagnostic and assessment model will offer DCF an in-depth, extended clinical consultation regarding the strengths and areas of need evidenced by the child and family. By working to engage the family, build a Care Planning Team and define initial goals, the consulting EDCS clinical Care Manager will be able to assess the current degree of appropriateness and feasibility of home-based treatment for the child and family and the family’s current needs. Following completion of the Extended Diagnostic Consultation, the child may: 1) be sufficiently improved such that a less intensive level of service may be selected, 2) have demonstrated either an individual level of vulnerability or a family level of need that suggests a different or more restrictive intervention is indicated, or, 3) have demonstrated sufficient gains from home-based, individualized care that they may be referred to the comprehensive CIRCLE program in order to complete the mission.
Eligibility Requirements:
- MassHealth eligible
- 3-17 ½ years old
- Live in towns covered by Malden and Cambridge Area DCF offices
- IQ of 70 or above
- Symptoms of severe emotional impairment for the past 6 months
- At least one caregiver willing to be part of the Care Planning Process
- Family willing for child to become a member of Neighborhood Health Plan
CIRCLE Brief Diagnostic Consultation
The Brief Diagnostic Consultation Service (BDCS) is another subcomponent of the comprehensive CIRCLE program model. This model provides reliable access to expert clinicians who are familiar with both residential treatment settings and also the growing variety of home and community-based supports for youth with complex needs and their families. The Brief Diagnostic Consultation Service is intended to be used to enhance clarity about which needs should be prioritized, from the perspective of the youth, the family and the referring staff in the relevant DCF Area office. Brief diagnostic consultations can also be used to aid in selection of appropriate treatment and to increase the effectiveness of interventions already in place and/or to clarify transition planning.
Eligibility Requirements:
- 3-17 ½ years old
- Live in towns covered by Malden and Cambridge Area DCF offices
- At least one caregiver willing to participate in the consultation
CIRCLE Family-to-Family Program
The CIRCLE Family-to-Family Program provides encouragement, support, and education to family members who are raising children with significant mental health needs.
Parents and guardians of youth with multiple and complex needs are often isolated or unsupported in their homes, schools, or neighborhoods and seek and opportunity for connection to other family members with similar experiences.
Program activities are organized around a multifamily support and skill building group for parents, foster parents, and guardians. The group is structured to provide:
- Direct emotional support, via active listening by staff and peer-to-peer interaction
- Information about children’s disabilities and about community based resources to meet those disabilities
- To build trust between peers and skill in navigating the service system
- Opportunities to experience success in leadership roles that focus on expressing the Family Voice.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Parents/guardians of children with serious mental health needs
- Live in towns covered by Malden and Cambridge Area DCF offices
- Parents must be in an active treatment relationship and be willing to agree to minimum of 12-week commitment to attend group
CIRCLE Teen Leadership Council (TLC)
Youth participate in the TLC for 12 week sessions, with repeat enrollment possible where appropriate. Teens gather on a weekly basis to participate in group meetings with dedicated clinical group leaders. The group offers clinical support while fostering a fun and youth-driven environment in which youth set the agenda for weekly meetings, and work together to select and plan the schedule of the group’s activities. TLC members provide each other with weekly peer validation, contribute to community service activities, and participate in leadership development activities and risk reduction/health promotion activities. In MHSPY’s experience, this relatively low intensity service has provided needed support for youth who need ongoing structure and stabilizing clinical contact following more intensive treatment.
Eligibility Requirements:
- 13-19 years old
- Have a history of significant functional impairments
- Live in towns covered by Malden and Cambridge Area DCF offices
- IQ of 70 or above
- Parent/guardian consent
- Active treatment or custodial relationship (i.e. therapist, probation officer, case worker)