Arrowhead residents are referred primarily through probation departments, school districts, and the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. Private placements are also accepted. Adolescents who are placed have experienced difficulty at home, in the community, and in school. They are of normal intelligence and have no serious organic, physical, or emotional handicaps.
Arrowhead does not accept individuals who are diagnostically considered high homicidal or suicidal risks, inclined to commit violent acts against another person, or who have been involved in arson.
Prior to admission, referral sources should contact the Intake Coordinator by phone ((309) 799-7044, ext 272) and must submit the following written material:
•Cover letter indicating the child’s current need for residential placement.
•Program identification of all previous placements including hospitalization.
•Medical history/records, to include immunization history.
•Most recent psychological and psychiatric reports(and older copies if pertinent).
•Psychosocial history/assessment.
•Most recent court order
•Other pertinent court orders, i.e., delinquency/probation orders.
•Copy of medical card.
•Most recent school records, IEP, if applicable.
•Copy of birth certificate.
•Copy of Social Security; if unavailable, Social Security number will be provided.
•Sexually problematic or aggressive Protection Plan/Sexual Behavior Assessment.
•LANS referral
•Parents’ name, address and telephone number.
If the written referral material characterizes the youth as appropriate for Arrowhead’s residential program, a pre-placement interview is then scheduled.
Upon arriving at Arrowhead, the Intake Coordinator begins the assessment process to determine the client’s potential need for Medicaid Community Mental Heath Services. The interview consists of diagnostic questioning, a maturity rating scale based on question response, an American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) to determine substance use and culmination of the interview with a DSM-IV Diagnosis. The Program Director, Therapist and Case Managers may participate in this interview. The school principal may also be part of this decision-making process.
Upon completion of the face-to-face interview, the worker, adolescent, and their family will be given a tour by Arrowhead residents. A final discussion of the tour, explanation of client’s rights, explanation of confidentiality and HIPAA issues, responsibility of the agency and of the client regarding treatment issues, and behavior management acknowledgement will end the pre-placement interview. The Intake Coordinator will communicate in writing to the referring agency Arrowhead’s acceptance or rejection of the adolescent.
