CASSP PRINCIPLES

The Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) is designed to help children and adolescents diagnosed with emotional disturbances gain access to necessary services. Services should be planned collaboratively with the child’s or adolescent’s family, the mental health system, the school and other agencies. Below are the principles that guide the CASSP.

CHILD-CENTERED

Services meet the specific needs of each child, rather than trying to fit the child into an existing service.  Services consider the child’s family and community contexts in addition to being developmentally appropriate and child-specific. Services build on the child and family’s strengths in order to meet the mental health, social and physical needs of the child.

FAMILY-FOCUSED

Services recognize the family as the primary support system for the child. The family participates fully as a partner in all stages of the decision-making and treatment planning process, including implementation, monitoring and evaluation. A family may include biological, adoptive and foster parents, siblings, grandparents and other relatives, as well as other adults who are committed to the child.

COMMUNITY-BASED

Whenever possible, services are delivered in the child’s natural environment, drawing on formal and informal resources to promote the child’s successful participation in the community. Community resources include not only mental health professionals and provider agencies, but also social, religious and cultural organizations, as well as other natural community support networks.

MULTI-SYSTEM

Services are planned in collaboration with other the child-serving systems already identified in the child’s life.  Representatives from these systems collaborate with the family to define goals for the child, develop a service plan, develop the necessary resources to implement the plan, provide appropriate support to the child and family, and evaluate the child’s progress.

CULTURAL COMPETENCE

Culture determines our worldview, provides a general design for living and establishes patterns for interpreting reality that are reflected in our behavior. Therefore, services that are culturally competent are provided by individuals who have the skills to recognize and respect the behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, beliefs, customs, language, rituals, ceremonies and practices characteristic of a particular group of people. Note: Pennsylvania’s cultural competence initiative has focused specifically on African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and Native Americans who have historically not received culturally appropriate services.

LEAST RESTRICTIVE / LEAST INTRUSIVE

Services take place in settings that are the most appropriate and natural for the child and family. These services are the least restrictive and intrusive available to meet the needs of the child and family.

counties we serve

Adams County Clinic Link Image
Berks County
Dauphin County
Franklin and Fulton County
Lancaster County
Lebanon County
York County

get in touch

1-855-272-1653

Give us a call to schedule an appointment.

mobile icon

Fill out our online form, and we’ll call you to schedule an appointment.

People are valuable.

Therefore, PCS exists to help children, adults and families discover their greatness.