INFORMED CONSENT

IHCC provides all patients access to Informed Consent documents. Patients acknowledge they have been educated about Informed Consent on the intake packet, and may access a copy in one of the following ways:

Request a written copy
Request an emailed copy
Access the electronic version through our webpage at htt://www.ihccinc.com

The Informed Consent document addresses the following issues:

What are my “rights” when receiving Services from IHCC?

I have the right to the following:

To obtain services
To refuse services
To choose my service provider
To be involved in the development of my treatment/care plan and agree with the elements on my plan
To make changes to my treatment/care plan
To meet with my provider at times and dates that are convenient and acceptable to me
To have family members involved in my treatment
To receive the most effective evidence-based treatment
To ask my provider about my services and how they are provided
To receive services that are ethically provided
To be informed of the cost of my services
To ask questions when I do not understand information or processes
To receive services that are high in quality and consistent with my individual choices, interests, needs, and current standards of practice
If applicable, to receive skill-training activities that are conducted in natural settings where I would commonly learn and utilize the skill (home, community, etc.)
The right to make informed choices about opportunities, treatment, and training in my life
To be interacted with in a respectful manner and to be recognized as the primary decision maker in my care
To access the appropriate reports and records to support and ensure informed decision making and continuity of care
To have my confidentiality protected
To choose how I want to be contacted. For example, I can choose to receive or not to receive text messages, phone calls, or emails and I have the right to inform you of my choice
To prompt and accurate completion of notes and records
To contact the Program Director for any concerns or dissatisfaction with services:
- Dustin Potter (208) 523-1130

What are my responsibilities in receiving Services?

To be involved in my care and the development of my treatment plan.
To follow through with recommendations from my provider and participate in my care
To keep appointments with my therapist, doctor, and service providers and inform them in advance if I am unable to keep an appointment
To notify my therapist, doctor, and service providers of any changes that may affect my rehabilitation and/or services (change in income, loss of Medicaid, etc.)
To maintain confidentiality (not talk about) regarding other clients I may know
To give 30 days’ notice if possible, to my assigned staff if I want to change to another agency (this will allow time to process all paperwork and make sure there is a smooth transition)

What are the responsibilities of my Provider?

To participate in the development of my plan and care goals, at my request
To allow me to be the primary decision maker
To maintain confidentiality about me and my services
To not exchange information about me or my plan with others unless I have signed an information release and given written consent
To give me a 30-day notice if they will no longer work with me
To help me find a new agency if that becomes a need
To provide training, education, and role modeling in the following areas:

Options for treatment and types of services I can use
Ways I can participate in my treatment
Coping strategies for dealing with behavioral health issues

To provide skill building services in my natural environment (where I usually spend my time) if applicable
To be available if a crisis arises. IHCC will provide 24-hour on call crisis assistance

The crisis phone number is available on our office voice message as well as below:
- IHCC Crisis Line (208) 589-IHCC (4422)

Nature of Services offered by IHCC:

Innovative Counseling Center offers the following services:

Psychotherapy:

Treatment methods using a specialized, formal interaction between a qualified professional and an individual, family or group in which a therapeutic relationship is established, maintained, or sustained to understand unconscious processes, or intrapersonal, interpersonal, and psychosocial dynamics, or the diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, conditions, and addictions. Treatment may be provided face to face in our facilities or if requested may be provided remotely through a HIPAA compliant electronic exchange system called Telemental Health.

Case Management:

Support with linking and coordinating the patient to services and monitoring the effectiveness of services.

Targeted Care Coordination:

Specific to members of the Youth Empowerment Services program to facilitate the Child Family Team meeting and link, monitor and coordinate all services.

Community Based Rehabilitation Services (CBRS):

Community Based Rehabilitative Services will provide you with a “CBRS Worker” who will work on skill training and coping exercises with you. Your input in the development of your CBRS plan is valuable and a core basis for the delivery of services. “Empowerment” is the central concept of CBRS and our agency will work to provide you with the tools to help you support yourself. We will work with you to develop coping skills and to become a “survivor” on the road to recovery. The focus of CBRS is on strengths rather than weaknesses, people rather than illnesses. Your CBRS Worker will help teach you skills to overcome deficits and to reduce stress in order for your illness to become less symptomatic and for you to become more independent and functional.

Peer/Youth Support Services:

A Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) is someone who has been or is diagnosed with a mental health diagnosis and is in the process of recovery themselves. They have knowledge of what you may be dealing with and can offer support in ways that are meaningful, safe, and supportive. They have completed a certification process in order to qualify to deliver this service. The focus of Peer Support is on recovery and resiliency. They will offer assistance in setting recovery goals through the development of a Recovery Plan. You will develop this plan together and it will address your recovery goals, relapse actions, and empowerment tools to help you maintain stability and resilience in your recovery journey. A peer support specialist can attend appointments with you if you would like them to, help you communicate and collaborate with your other treatment providers, and offer support when you are struggling and need encouragement to meet your goals. The Peer Support Specialist will not be able to delivery clinical level treatment as this is the role of your counselor. They are not allowed to help in the administration of medications, or provide services consistent with the role of a case manager. A Peer Support Specialist is not a taxi service, is not allowed to provide any monetary support or accept any monetary transactions, and will not be responsible for dictating tasks assigned by other staff members. The Peer Support Specialist is there to support you, not direct you, and can be a valuable part toward long term recovery.

Family Support Services:

A certified Family Support Partner is someone who has lived experience raising a child with a social emotional disorder, and in some cases, a co-existing developmental disorder. They have a level of understanding of the stress a parent can feel when trying to navigate the system of care, advocate for their child, and cope with difficult behaviors. A Family Support Partner can help parents by providing information regarding treatment options in the community, effective strategies for communicating with the treatment team, and techniques and tips for helping to manage stressful behavioral concerns. The Family Support Partner can help advocate for the needs of the child and provide a level of empathy and support that can only be gained through lived experience. The role of the Family Support Partner is to support and teach family members so they can advocate for themselves on behalf of the child. The Family Support Partner is not to replace the parent in seeking services, monitoring the effectiveness of services, or implementing behavioral programming. The focus of this service is on recovery and resiliency and teaching families to be independent and confident in supporting their child with a social emotional disorder.

Respite Care (Children Only):

Respite care is a short-term service to provide care giver relief. It is intended to de-escalate stressful situations and may be offered up to 72 hours at one time in the home or up to 10 hours at one time in the community or facility. In order to access respite care, families must participate in Youth Empowerment Services and complete an assessment and treatment plan through the Department of Health and Welfare, and be actively utilizing outpatient mental health services.

Crisis Response and Intervention

A crisis is defined as someone considering self-harm to self or others, disorientation, a compromised ability to function, and/or an inability to self-calm. If you or your family member meet this criteria, we can provide telephonic crisis response to provide support, active listening, and referrals to care; or a crisis intervention face to face session to provide counseling, ensure the safety of the client, and provide referrals for continued care. After a crisis response or intervention, our team will follow up with you within 24 hours to ensure your needs have been met.

Benefits of receiving Services:

Identify individual goals and track outcomes through the process of treatment and recovery planning and reviews
Learn additional skills to help increase ability to function independently and successfully
Develop an increased ability to manage symptoms effectively
Receive support in attending appointments
Receive completed assessment and evaluation reports and diagnostic summary information
For Telemental Health delivered services, access to care is available for those unable to travel or participate in traditional face to face settings, or who prefer the convenience of video telehealth from their home.
To de-escalate potential life-threatening situations through crisis response and intervention

Risks of receiving Services:

Mental Health Services will result in a diagnosis of a mental illness (adult) or Social Emotional Disorder (children), or other neurocognitive disorder which may or may not be a benefit for some individuals and families
Dependency on mental health services may occur resulting in a fear of “graduating” from the program
Closure of service if non-compliant with appointments and plan
Services may bring up past issues dormant in the subconscious mind which may cause trauma to the individual
Side effects associated with medication will be disclosed and discussed. However, tolerance of medication is individualized and changes in medication due to negative side effects may be experienced.
If you choose to limit your participation (miss appointments, cancel appointments, and deny additional services) you may not see growth, therefore limiting your ability to reach your goals for recovery. Your symptoms of mental illness may decompensate further.
For Telemental Health services, there may be technical difficulties which impede the ability to receive the service. Although IHCC uses a HIPAA compliant software system to deliver confidential Telemental Health services, as with any electronic platform, there may be a risk of breach of data and personal information.

After Hours Accessibility and Communication

IHCC’s office hours are 8:30 to 5:00 Monday through Thursday and from 8:30 to 4:00 on Friday. If you have an emergency after normal business hours, the following options are available to you:

For life threatening emergencies, contact 911 immediately
For non-life-threatening emergencies:

Patients may contact our 24-hour crisis line at (208) 589-IHCC (4422) for assistance.

- If you get a voice mail message upon calling the crisis phone, your phone call will be returned within 15 minutes if you have left a message with your name and return phone number

IHCC will provide feedback regarding what is deemed an emergency versus routine service at your intake and ongoing sessions as applicable. In the event you leave a message with the office after hours, your call can be expected to be returned prior to 10:00 AM the following business day. For emergency/crisis contact via the crisis line(s), your call will be returned immediately if you leave a message.

Referral for Other Services:

In the event IHCC does not provide the service, we will provide choice and refer you to an agency that does provide the service. Some examples of services you may be referred out to are:

Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy
Physical Therapy
Partial Care Services
Home Health Care Services

Patients have a choice in who provides their services and have the right to refuse service at any time. By signing the Intake Packet paperwork for IHCC, patients identify their choice in utilizing IHCC for their outpatient mental health services.

Thank you for your trust in Innovative Counseling Center.