MIKID-Mentally Ill Kids in Distress

MIKID-Mentally Ill Kids in Distress is a non-profit behavioral health organization licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Servicers to provide outpatient behavioral health treatment to families in Arizona and Colorado.Founded in 1987 by Sue Gilbertson, a parent of a child diagnosed with serious emotional disturbance, to provide services to children like hers. Over 30 years later, MIKID services have expanded to include prevention, navigation and reunification. Through services such respite care, family support, life skills training, youth peer support, health and wellness and outpatient counseling, MIKID helps prevents families from being torn apart, helps families navigate behavioral health systems and reunifies families facing behavioral health challenges.MIKID IS WHAT IS IDENTIFIED IN THE INDUSTRY AS A "FAMILY RUN ORGANIZATION." TO MAINTAIN THIS CATEGORY OF RECOGNITION, MIKID IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMPRISED OF OVER 50% OF MEMBERS BEING PARENTS AND/OR CAREGIVERS TO CHILDREN COPING WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES AND REQUIRES ALL STAFF PROVIDING FAMILY SUPPORT AS THEIR PRIMARY JOB TO HAVE THE SAME "LIVED-EXPERIENCE" AS THE BOARD. IN ADDITION, EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE FOR ANY POSITION IS GIVEN TO INDIVIDUALS WITH"LIVED-EXPERIENCE."MIKID HAS A STRONG MISSION AND VISION WITH THE FOCUS ON SUPPORTING FAMILIES. IN 2021, MIKID WAS ESPECIALLY FOCUSED ON PREVENTING FAMILIES FROM BEING TORN APART. THIS FEDERAL INITIATIVE, THE FAMILY PREESERVATION ACT, REQUIRES THE TYPES OF SERVCIES MIKID PROVIDES TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER- AND DECREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILD REMOVALS. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, MIKID'S INTERVENTIONS ARE DRIVEN BY TWO OUTCOMES: 1)PREVENTION, 2) REUNIFICATION. ADDITIONAL OUTCOMES FOCUS ON AVOIDING HOSPITALIZATION AND DECREASING EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS. IN 2022, DESPITE THE ADDED EFFECTS OF THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC, MIKID MEMBERS HAS ZERO HOSPITALIZATIONS.MIKID'S CURRENTLY OPERATING LICENSED SITES ARE IN PHOENIX, CASA GRANDE, TUCSON, NOGALES, YUMA, KINGMAN, BULLHEAD CITY, AND SIERRA VISTA ARIZONA. MIKID ALSO CONTINUES TO EXPAND ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE STATE WITH A FOCUS ON SERVING RURAL AREAS.MIKID PROVIDES AN ARRAY OF SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE LIVING WITH A MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE. MIKID IS INVESTED IN WORKING WITH PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONTINUUM OF CARE. MIKID IS A 'TRAUMA-INFORMED' AGENCY. THIS APPROACH IS AT THE CORE OF THE MISSION AND VISION OF MIKID. TO MAKE THIS A REALITY, MIKID HAS INVESTED IN INCORPORATING A NUMBER OF EVIDENCE BASED MODELS OF CARE, AS WELL AS BEST PRACTICES TO ENSURE QUALITY ANDSUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OUTCOMES.THE PSN (PARENT SUPPORT NOW) PROGRAM IS OFFERED IN EIGHT (8) ADDITIONAL COUNTIES IN SOUTHERN AZ. AGES OPENED IN SOUTHERN AZ VARY BASED ON THE DEMOGRAPHICAL NEEDS IN EACH COUNTY. WE ARE NOW SERVICING, IN ADDITION TO MOHAVE, THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES: YUMA, LA PAZ, COCHISE, PINAL, GRAHAM, YAVAPAI, SANTA CRUZ AND MARICOPA. PIMA COUNTY IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING UTILIZING THE PSN PROGRAM.MIKID'S TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUTH (TAY) PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED WITH NEW POSITIONS AND LEADERSHIP TO APPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE PROGRAM AND CONTINUES TO EXPAND FURTHER IN 2022. MIKID STAFF CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN STATEWIDE COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES TO PROMOTE POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT INCREASE THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND SERVICES WITH A FOCUS ON THOSE PROVIDED BY FAMILY AND PEER RUN ORGANIZATIONS.