DCI's Child Outpatient Program serves children, adolescents and their families, age five to eighteen who generally live in N.W. Detroit and Redford. Eligible children are seen for a Comprehensive Assessment performed by a Master's Level Clinical Social Worker or Psychologist at the start of service delivery, then seen regularly usually by the same credentialed child behavioral health specialist throughout their stay at the Center. Depending on the assessed need and according to the consumer's Person Centered Plan, children may be seen in any combination of individual, family or group modalities.

The Center's Child Psychiatrists oversee service delivery to all consumers and are more directly involved with families when circumstances dictate. In addition to all the family / focused and strength based supports provided by DCI staff, families / children who meet admittance / eligibility criteria can (through their DCI clinician), access the entire CareLink and Detroit Wayne County Community Mental Health continuum of care including Planned Family Respite services. Most Child Outpatient Services are offered at the center, 17321 Telegraph; some services are provided in the Community as appropriate.

Most insurances are accepted including Medicaid and MI-Child and assistance is provided for those who are uninsured to obtain coverage when eligible.

The DCI Child and Adolescent Home Based Program provides intensive services to eligible families who generally are experiencing multiple stressors in addition to managing and trying to maintain a severely emotionally disturbed (SED) child or adolescent (age five to eighteen) in their home. Staff are committed to helping these families reduce the risk of removing this SED child from their home while providing all of the supports and services at their disposal to enhance family functioning. Utilizing a Family Focused and mutually developed Plan, assigned Master's Level Clinicians work intensively with program families, schools, primary care physicians, psychiatrists, and other community agencies to strengthen families, promote healthy development, increase natural supports and promote community inclusion. Home Based families typically have attempted outpatient services and found those services inadequate to meet the child / family's multiple service needs.

Targeted Case Management services for child and adolescent consumers assist families with needs that generally go beyond the usual scope of behavioral health service programs. Case management eligible families may need help with financial difficulties and budgeting, finding safe and affordable housing, securing seasonally appropriate clothing, accessing both emergency and ongoing food resources, managing too often and unnecessarily complex DHS, Criminal Justice, Medical Care and Educational systems or assistance in accessing any available entitlements such as, Medicaid,
MI Child, or social security disability insurance. The case manager provides supports, information, referrals, medication monitoring and serves as an advocate for the family within and between all relevant service systems. Targeted Case Management better ensures optimal family functioning and improves the outcome of other behavioral health services provided at the center and in the community.

Wrap Around Program

Development Centers, Inc. and Starr Vista, Inc. are collaborative partners committed to providing individualized, needs driven and strength-based services to families with children in both the Community Mental Health and Juvenile Justice systems. Youth (ages 7-16 years) are referred for Wraparound services through these two systems of care. These youth often present with multiple problems and are a part of families with complex and enduring needs in many of their life domains. The Wraparound process, a family-centered treatment intervention model, coordinates and facilitates a myriad of services for youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance. A Child and Family team is established that involves those persons most familiar with the child as well as local service providers and community members.

The Wraparound process ensures the child and family receive quality inter-organizational services and supports that will significantly reduce the risk that the youth will be removed from the home. Ultimately, the family’s dependence on formal agencies and organizations is gradually decreased and natural support systems are cultivated, thereby improving the family’s overall level of functioning. Because Wraparound involves interagency collaboration, a Community Team who has the responsibility and authority to support children and their families in Northwest Detroit, oversees the process. The Community Team works with the family and their assigned Wraparound Facilitator to meet the family’s needs. Wraparound services are provided in the home and community, however Development Center, Inc. offices, located at 17321 Telegraph Road are also available, when necessary. This is a new service established in 2007 and referrals may be made through the Access Department.