Tri County CMO of New Jersey .:. Providing Family Care Services, Parenting Education, Interdisciplinary Support, and Community Assistance

System of Care Partners

CMO (Tri-County CMO)

Tri-County CMO (TCCMO), a care management organization for children in Warren, Hunterdon and Somerset counties, is part of the New Jersey Partnership for Children (currently Division for Child Behavioral Health Services (DCBHS)). TCCMO serves children primarily between the ages of 5 and 16, or up to age 21 if the youth is in the DCBHS system before their 21st birthday. Following development of an Individual Service Plan (ISP), a Child and Family Team, comprised of the child’s caregiver, the care manager, formal service providers such as therapists and in-community providers, and natural or informal supports, work together in achieving the most positive outcomes. TCCMO offers 24/7 on-call services to our children and families, with office hours Monday-Friday, 9am-4:30pm; after-hours on-call care manager can be accessed by dialing 908-526-3900 and pressing option “5”.

PerformCare

The Contracted System Administrator (CSA) for the Division of Child Behavioral Health Services (DCBHS) is PerformCare. In assisting DCBHS by authorizing, tracking, and coordinating care and service outcomes for children, PerformCare serves as a source of information and referral to children and families over the phone.  PerformCare enters a single electronic record for each child, provides reporting and information technology in coordinating quality management; as a centralized referral center, clinical staff assess needs of the child and, as appropriate, will send out individuals to perform needs assessment.  Parents, family members, school employees, mental health providers and other professionals helping children and families may contact PerformCare on behalf of a child or adolescent in need of a referral; however, the guardian of the child must give consent for services.

To access PerformCare:

Call 1-877-652-7624 or visit www.performcarenj.com
When calling PerformCare, you will hear an automated voice system with the following choices:

• If it is an Emergency, Press 1
• If you need Mobile Response (immediate help to address a crisis), Press 2
• If you are a DYFS worker, Press 3
• If you are calling regarding residential treatments, Press 4
• If you are calling regarding a 14-day Plan, Press 5
• To repeat menu of services, Press 6
• If you need other services or you would like to speak to a Customer Service Representative, remain on the line. (The Customer Service Representative will ask a few questions to determine how they can best serve you and then transfer you to a PerformCare Coordinator.)

FSO (Family Support Organization)

The Family Support Organization (FSO) of Hunterdon, Somerset, and Warren is a private, non-profit organization of families helping other families. Comprised of parents/caregivers of children who suffer with behavioral, emotional, and/or mental health challenges, FSO staff provides support, education, and empowerment to other families traveling the same journey. Family Support Partners provide individual support to caregivers of children in the Care Management Organization (CMO) to become their child’s best advocate until such time as they have become full partners in the care and planning for their child. FSO group activities (support groups, classes, presentations, workshops) are open to ALL families of such children in the community, regardless of CMO involvement. The FSO also advocates strongly for the family voice at all levels of government. The FSO operates a Warm Line (9-5, Monday-Friday), open to the entire community, for children’s mental health information, questions, referrals, or just to listen. The FSO is the only system partner that can be accessed directly: 908-788-8585.

DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services)

The Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) is the State's comprehensive social service agency for children and families. DYFS is required by State law to investigate reports of child abuse and neglect and to take immediate action necessary to ensure the safety of the child. New Jersey's law states: "Any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been abused or neglected shall report it immediately to DYFS" (N.J.S.A. 9.6-8.10). To report child abuse in New Jersey, call 1-877-652-2873.

YCM (Youth Case Management)

Youth Case Management (YCM) offers mid-level face-to-face services for moderate-risk children and adolescents who do not meet the intensive care requirements of the CMO. YCM provides off-site community-based services intended to assist youth and their families in identifying, accessing and receiving appropriate mental health services. YCM services are directed toward those youth who are seriously emotionally disturbed and are either at high risk of imminent decompensation, in need of an array of mental health services, unresponsive to more traditional community-based clinical interventions, in need of extensive service coordination or expected to be returning to a community setting from a residential setting. YCM can access, coordinate and monitor services to enable children and youth to achieve stability in their living arrangements and remain in the community.
To access YCM services, a referral to PerformCare must be made by calling 1-877-652-7624.

MRSS (Mobile Response and Stabilization Services)

Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) provides specially trained workers employing best practice crisis prevention and de-escalation skills. MRSS staff are dispatched to the crisis site within one hour of call with the goal of stabilizing behavior and maintaining children, ages 5-18, in their home. (Special consideration is given to children under age 5, as well as youth aged 18-21 who are actively involved with Child Welfare, Child Behavioral Health or Juvenile Justice at the time of their 18th birthday). De-escalation of the crisis is the immediate goal. Seventy-two hours of intensive support are offered, followed by additional referral and linkage services for up to eight weeks, to help the family maintain stabilization.
To access MRSS, call 1-877-652-7624.

FCIU (Family Crisis Intervention Unit)

Family Crisis Intervention Unit (FCIU) helps youth families in crisis, involving family conflict, truancy, runaway, serious threat to physical safety or wellbeing. Defusing and stabilizing juvenile/family crises may divert them from the family court system. Where there are child behavioral health issues, the FCIU will call PerformCare. FCIU serves as the coordinator and liaison between the family, the treatment community and family court system.
To access your local FCIU, call 908-788-6401 (Hunterdon); call 908-704-6330 (Somerset), call 908-454-5141 (Warren).

YSC (County Youth Services Commission)

Youth Services Commission (YSC) is a legislatively-mandated body that plans, implements, monitors and evaluates the juvenile justice system. It develops a comprehensive plan of sanctions and services for juveniles adjudicated or charged as delinquent and delinquency prevention programs. Its mandated duties and responsibilities include assessing and prioritizing the needs of delinquent and at-risk youth, coordinating and integrating services for youth 5-19 years of age. To access your local YSC, call 908-788-1372 (Hunterdon); call 908-704-6333 (Somerset), call 908-475-6331 (Warren).