What Happens After Family-Based Mental Health Services? Preparing Families for Discharge and Continued Success

If your family is approaching the end of Family-Based Mental Health Services (FBMHS), you may feel proud of the progress you have made while also wondering what happens next.

Will your family still have support? How will you handle future challenges? What if you need Family-Based services again?

These are normal questions. At Laurel Life, discharge planning is not something that happens only during the final few weeks. It begins on the first day of services and continues throughout the full program.

The goal is to help each family leave with practical skills, helpful connections, and a clear plan for moving forward.

When Does FBMHS Discharge Planning Begin?

Discharge planning begins on the first day a family enters Family-Based Mental Health Services.

Early in the program, the Family-Based team works with the family to understand what a successful discharge would look like for them. They discuss the family’s goals, the changes they hope to make, and the support they may need once the team is no longer visiting the home.

These conversations continue throughout treatment. The plan may change as the family makes progress, faces new challenges, or discovers that additional services could be helpful.

By the time discharge approaches, the family and treatment team should already have a good understanding of what comes next.

How Does the Team Know a Family Is Ready for Discharge?

There is no single definition of a successful FBMHS discharge. Every family enters the program with different needs, relationships, and goals.

Family-Based Mental Health Services generally last up to 32 weeks. Many families complete the full program and continue working toward their goals independently. Completing those 32 weeks is an accomplishment, but success will not look exactly the same for every family.

Some families may finish services early because they have met their goals and feel confident using their new skills. Others may end early because the time and participation required by the program no longer fit their circumstances.

When preparing for discharge, the Family-Based team may consider:

• The family’s progress toward its treatment goals

• The family’s ability to use new skills without the team present

• Improvements in communication and family relationships

• The caregiver’s confidence in responding to challenges

• Any remaining behavioral or mental health concerns

• The services and community resources available after discharge

Discharge decisions are based on where the family is at that time, not simply how many weeks it has received services.

Can Family-Based Mental Health Services Be Extended?

Sometimes a family reaches the end of the standard service period but would benefit from additional time.

In certain situations, the treatment team may request authorization for an extension, such as an additional month of Family-Based services. A family may also ask about receiving another full period of care.

Additional services are not automatically approved. The supervisor and treatment team must determine whether more Family-Based care is appropriate, and authorization may be required.

The decision depends on the family’s progress, current needs, and whether Family-Based services remain the right level of support.

How Are Families Involved in the Discharge Plan?

Families help shape their discharge plan from the beginning of treatment.

Each family’s treatment plan identifies its goals and explains what progress should look like.

As treatment continues, the family and team regularly review those goals and discuss what will be needed to maintain that progress.

For one family, success may mean communicating without arguments escalating into a crisis. For another, it may mean creating more consistent routines, strengthening coping skills, or helping caregivers feel more confident responding to difficult behaviors.

The discharge plan may identify:

• Skills and strategies the family wants to continue practicing

• Warning signs that more support may be needed

• Providers or agencies the family can contact

• Mental or behavioral health services that may continue

• Community programs that support the family’s goals

Because families are involved throughout the process, the final plan reflects their needs instead of following the same checklist for everyone.

What Happens After Family-Based Mental Health Services?

After Family-Based Mental Health Services end, some families continue with another mental or behavioral health service. Others may feel ready to move forward with community support and the skills they developed during treatment.

Depending on the family’s needs and eligibility, continued services could include:

• Outpatient counseling

• Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS)

• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

• Other therapeutic or behavioral health programs

Families may also be connected with resources outside of formal therapy. These could include church or faith-based programs, YMCA activities, camps, Children and Youth programming, and other community organizations.

The best next step depends on the child, the family’s goals, and the services available in their community.

Does the Family-Based Team Follow Up After Discharge?

Once a family is discharged, the Family-Based team does not provide additional follow-up services. Care fully transitions to the providers and community supports included in the discharge plan.

If the family continues with outpatient counseling or another service, that provider becomes responsible for the appropriate parts of continued care. Receiving another Laurel Life service does not count as follow-up from the former Family-Based team.

This is why the team works to establish connections before discharge whenever possible. Families should leave knowing who they can contact and where they can turn if they need additional help.

What Should Families Do If Concerns Begin Escalating Again?

Family conflict, difficult behaviors, or mental health concerns may return after discharge. A setback does not erase the progress the family made during treatment.

Families should begin by reviewing their discharge plan and contacting the providers, agencies, or community resources identified by their Family-Based team. They may also contact their behavioral health insurance provider, such as PerformCare when applicable, or reach out to a local mental health agency.

A family that previously received FBMHS can ask about Family-Based Mental Health Services again. However, the family will need to complete the eligibility and authorization process again before services can restart.

Reaching out early can help families address concerns before they become more difficult to manage.

Continuing Your Family’s Progress After FBMHS

Discharge does not mean a family will never experience another disagreement, setback, or stressful period. Continued success means knowing how to respond when challenges happen.

Families can support their progress by continuing to use the communication strategies, coping skills, routines, and problem-solving tools they practiced during treatment. Staying connected with supportive providers and community programs can also make it easier to ask for help when needed.

What happens after Family-Based Mental Health Services will look different for every family. With a thoughtful discharge plan and the right connections in place, families can continue building on their progress long after the program ends.

To learn more about Family-Based Mental Health Services or ask about available support, visit Laurel Life’s FBMHS page or contact our team.