The Minnesota Intensive Therapeutic Homes (MITH) program provides a unique alternative to institutional placement for children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbance and serious acting-out behaviors. Children typically have had significant histories of trauma and abuse. Services are provided in family foster homes by licensed, trained and experienced foster parents. Crisis support services are available 24/7.
All individuals in the MITH program have highly coordinated wraparound treatment teams which meet regularly. Members of the treatment team may include: foster parents, the individual being served, family members, MITH clinical coordinator and MITH supervisor, community agency therapist, MITH support worker, county social worker and/or county probation officer, waiver workers, Guardians ad litem, school staff, private foster care agency social worker, other service providers or informal support people (such as a mentor, coach, park/recreation staff.)
Foster parents have frequent contact with a variety of medical and mental health professionals on the MITH treatment team to identify problems and solutions. The MITH treatment team also works closely with community psychiatrists, who provide medication management for youth in the program. Registered nurses on staff with MITH provide training to foster parents on medication administration, side-effect monitoring and other medical issues. Staff ensure children in the program receive appropriate individual and family therapy.
All children and adolescents in the MITH program attend school in the community. The treatment team works closely with special education staff on planning for children with Individualized Education Programs. Independent living skills training maybe provided by MITH staff as well as by the foster parents.
