CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — If your child struggles with mental health challenges, there’s a service available right now.
The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse expanded its programs in Hamilton County.
This allows access to their new crisis follow-up program. For 90 days, a crisis worker will visit families at their homes to provide care and comfort after a mental health crisis.
This is called the Family Empowerment Initiative, and it’s done in partnership with the non-profit ‘Youth Villages’.
W. Patrick Jeffries Crisis Program Supervisor, FEI Program Youth Villages told us, “So that’s what we do with family empowerment we go to those families who they’re most in need. maybe they have TennCare, maybe they have snap benefits you know maybe they just having a hard time really getting that foot in the door and we’re trying to help them and keep safe keep them out of the ER setting, prevent the kid from having to go to a mental hospital.”
If you or a family member is experiencing a mental health emergency, you can call or text 9-8-8 to talk to a real human professional about your experience.
