<h2>Case Management</h2>
The SPARC case management system works to create a comprehensive, integrated system of supports and services which provide effective interventions for the most difficult to treat conditions.

Our Case Managers coordinate closely with Care Coordination in an effort to provide seamless care.

* Clinical Home- coordinates and/or provides comprehensive assessment, and ongoing basic benefits (as needed) for each member.

* Integrated- maintains medical and behavioral provider relationships for supports and services.

* Coordinated- All aspects of the person-centered plan are carried out in such a manner that reflects the interrelationship of each individual service or component, and does not allow gaps in service or wait times between necessary levels of care.

* 24-7 Crisis-Our Case Managers are trained in crisis response, and will go into the field as necessary to ensure continuity of care and safety to members.

<h2 style=”text-align: left;”>Shared Risk Contracting</h2>
Medicaid Managed Care Organizations and Behavioral Health Providers have the potential to partner and improve health care quality and control rising costs, particularly for complex, high-need members. Coordinating behavioral health and medical services, and/or providing evidenced-based programs, may help to dramatically improve quality of care and reap significant savings from avoidable emergency room and inpatient utilization.

The SPARC Network will custom design shared savings programs that work to reduce health care spending for high-cost member populations, while simultaneously increasing quality of service delivery and outcomes.
<p style=”text-align: center;”>If you would like more information, please email <a href=”mailto:dan@thesparcnetwork.net”>dan@thesparcnetwork.net</a></p>

<h2>In Home Therapy Services (IHTS)</h2>
In Home Therapy Services (IHTS) is a combination of the Evidenced-Based Therapy Practice Motivational Interviewing and coordination of care interventions provided in the home and community to children and their families where there are complex clinical needs that traditional outpatient therapy cannot adequately address.

IHTS is a time limited service, approximately 6 months, in which the Therapist and the QP work with the child and their family to meet the therapeutic needs as well as provide linkage to professional and natural supports. The Therapist will provide individual and family therapy to address the child’s mental health needs as well as family systems issues and needs that may complicate traditional outpatient therapy from being successful. The QP will approach the care coordination through the philosophies of System of Care and will work with the various systems involved with the child and family, such as DSS, DJJ, Primary Care, and School System. Upon discharge from IHTS services, children and their

families will be able to continue to receive Outpatient Therapy from the Therapist to ensure continuity of care. The child/family will receive a minimum of 2 hours/week of therapy and care coordination activities.

The goals of IHTS are to:

1 Reduce presenting mental health/psychiatric symptoms

2 Ensure linkage to and coordination with community services and resources

3 Prevent out of home placement

<h2 style=”text-align: left;”>Bridge Team</h2>
<h5>Background:</h5>
For the past several years, NC “Money Follows the Person” (MFP) has supported behaviorally complex individuals with I/DD to transition out of NC’s State Developmental Centers and PRTFs). As a result, NC MFP directly experiences the challenges in ensuring true continuity and linkage to integrated community-based options for this population.

Advised by its partners within the Local LME-MCOs, Division of Medical Assistance (DMA), Division of Mental Health (DMH) and Division of State Operated Health Facilities (DSOHF), MFP has identified particular issues in ensuring:

1. Adequate and continuous access to community-based behavioral health supports, including pre-transition planning and post-transition technical assistance;

2. Effective community-based staff training on behavioral health support needs and strategies;

3. Effective collaboration with local school systems (as relevant) to ensure behavioral support strategies are 
applicable and effectively applied within the school;

4. Individuals who experience I/DD and behavioral health support needs have meaningful opportunities to become 
engaged, contributing members to their communities.

To better ensure continuity of care during times of transition, MFP also recognizes transition planning requires deliberate overlap, with community-based resources actively engaging in pre-transition training and planning.

However, despite increased attention to this approach, community-based services cannot always comply with this preferred practice, resulting in spotty and inadequate staff training and gaps in service continuity.NC MFP’s transition experience also reveals the need for a more intensive “hands on” period for clinical and staffing consultation and assistance immediately following the transition.
<h5>Purpose:</h5>
Money Follows the Person (MFP) is a Medicaid Demonstration Project that assists eligible individuals in transitioning from qualified long-term care

facilities into their homes and communities with appropriate support. As a demonstration project, MFP also examines and works to improve functions, processes and expectations related to quality transition practices.

In an effort to better address the needs of targeted, transitioning individuals, the Department shall pilot a Transition Bridging Team concept to implement and evaluate the efficacy of certain transition-related interventions.

Managed by selected LME-MCOs, the Transition Bridging Teams will support identified individuals who experience a dual diagnosis of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and serious behavioral challenges and are transitioning out of a PRTF or the state’s Development Center Specialty Programs and into community settings consistent with the Home and Community-Based Services Final Rule. While the level of Bridging Team involvement may vary, the Team will provide intensive, “hands on,” time-limited oversight and technical assistance to community-based support networks.

<h2 style=”text-align: left;”>Outpatient Therapy</h2>
Our Licensed Outpatient Therapists provide intensive clinical therapeutic services to children, adolescents, and adults with identified mental health or substance abuse diagnosis.

We can serve members in the office and/or in the community, including homes. Our Therapists are trained in Crisis Response and can provide 24-7 crisis services. Our Clinicians are supported (when necessary) with case management and medication management.

Finally, SPARC Therapists coordinate closely with the member’s Medical Home.

<h2>Transition Management Services</h2>
The SPARC Network uses Transition Management Services (TMS) to provide services to individuals participating in the Transition to Community Living Initiative (TCLI). TMS is a rehabilitation service intended to increase and restore an individual’s ability to live successfully in the community by maintaining tenancy.TMS focuses on increasing the individual’s ability to live as independently as possible, managing the illness, and reestablishing his or her community roles related to the following life domains: emotional, social, safety, housing, medical and health, educational, vocational, and legal.TMS provides structured rehabilitative interventions.

<h2 style=”text-align: left;”>Hospital Liaison</h2>
<div><span style=”font-family: Calibri;”><span style=”color: #222222;”>SPARC interfaces with facility utilization review staff to facilitate timely transfer of hospitalized patients and appropriate use of facility resources. Our uniquely trained clinicians act as </span>liaison between the hospital<span style=”color: #222222;”>, physicians, managed care, nursing homes, family members and behavioral health providers to resolve problems, provide information, and maintain positive relationships.</span></span></div>