Youth Empowerment Services
Getting Started with YES
Your youth with a serious emotional disturbance can access YES services and supports if:
- It is determined that your child is limited by their mental health challenges (referred to as a serious emotional disturbance or SED).
- Your child is under 18
Read below to learn more and about how to qualify for YES Medicaid or be able to access YES services with a co-pay.
Youth currently enrolled in Medicaid:
If your child is already enrolled in Medicaid, then you can access YES services by simply contacting Optum Idaho. You can also learn more about those services in the YES practice manual.
The exception to this process is if you want to access respite services. In this case, your family needs to go through the assessment process with Liberty Healthcare. Visit their website or call 1-877-305-3469. Liberty will conduct an interview with the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) tool which will help your family to communicate your child’s and your family’s unique needs and strengths and determine the level of need for your child.
Youth currently without Medicaid:
Your child may be eligible for YES Medicaid if:
- Your family’s income level does not exceed 299% of the Federal Poverty Level
- And it is determined that your child is limited by their mental health challenges, referred to as a serious emotional disturbance (SED).
In order to determine your child’s level of need, contact Liberty Healthcare through their website, www.libertyhealthcare.com, or call 1-877-305-3469. Liberty will conduct an interview with the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) tool which will help your family to communicate your child’s and your family’s unique needs and strengths and determine the level of need for your child.
After Liberty Healthcare determines your child’s eligibility, you will need to apply for Medicaid.
Families not eligible for YES Medicaid (those with a family income of 300% and over the poverty line):
The first step is to determine your child’s level of need by contacting Liberty Healthcare through their website, www.libertyhealthcare.com or call 1-877-305-3469. Liberty will conduct an interview with the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) tool which will help your family to communicate your child’s and your family’s unique needs and strengths and determine the level of need for your child.
After Liberty Healthcare determines your child’s eligibility, you will need to apply for Medicaid in order to demonstrate your child is ineligible.
If you learn that your child does not qualify for YES Medicaid, contact your regional Children’s Mental Health office for YES service access.
Want to learn more about YES (Youth Empowerment Services)?
Yes website and further resources
History and current development