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Wheeler Clinic News

Web Site: http://www.wheelerclinic.org
Alternative in the Community 130 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT 06450
Tel: (203) 235-1654 Fax: (203) 235-1670

Wheeler Clinic provides a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health, special education, community justice, foster care, employee assistance and wellness services to more than 30,000 individuals and families each year.

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Wheeler Clinic Launches Innovative In-home Services for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Members

October 15, 2013

Wheeler Clinic's Intensive In-home Behavioral Health Services (IIBHS) program serves Anthem members between ages 3 and 17 who are at high risk of an inpatient admission or have a history of emergency department, inpatient and/or residential admissions. Youth referred to IIBHS by a hospital emergency department, inpatient program or by an Anthem care manager receive 24/7 crisis support and strengths-based, intensive in-home individual and family therapy from a team of Wheeler clinicians.

"Wheeler's noteworthy outcomes, demonstrated capacity to deliver quality, community-based services and extensive experience serving families across Connecticut made this an ideal collaboration," said Dr. Steve Korn, at Anthem. "Our projects with Wheeler have been driven by a shared spirit of innovation and a commitment to results. This is the first of a few agreements we have been working hard to secure in order to provide behavior health in-home covered services to Anthem's young members who are at high risk of inpatient admission. "

Working with Anthem to deliver the IIBHS program to Anthem members allows Wheeler to bring the extensive expertise we have developed in community-based care to a broader population of children and youth with complex behavioral health needs," said Susan Walkama, LCSW, President and CEO of Wheeler Clinic. "We have a highly successful history of helping youth with serious emotional and behavioral challenges to remain safe and stable in their home environments, diverting emergency department utilization and avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations. We believe these services will be a valuable addition to Anthem's continuum of covered resources."

Wheeler Clinic provides a comprehensive array of evidence-based, intensive in-home services to more than 800 youth and families each year. These programs consistently demonstrate significant reductions in problem severity, emergency department utilization, inpatient hospitalization and residential admission for youth receiving services. Significant reductions in school suspensions, truancy and juvenile arrests are also achieved. Youth experience improvements in functioning, coping skills and family satisfaction.

The IIBHS program serves Anthem-enrolled families in 81 cities and towns including all of Hartford and Tolland counties and multiple communities in New Haven, Fairfield and Windham counties.

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