Receiving the Care You Need

How do I start getting services?  What is “intake?”
To receive services from us, you start with an initial appointment.  We call this initial meeting “Intake.”  You meet with a Pantano staff member who specializes in the intake process.  The purpose of the meeting is to evaluate you and your family’s needs and learn about your preferences.

What should I bring to an intake?
To receive the best care right from the beginning, please bring:

1. the child’s birth certificate or a similar document which proves guardianship
2. AHCCCS member card
3. Social Security card
4. Parents’ proof of residency (Arizona Driver’s License, utility bill with current address)

Other documents that are helpful are notes from the child’s school or other similar paperwork that is relevant to the circumstances.

What happens during intake?
The intake meeting gives you the opportunity and our intake provider to get to know each other. You share a lot of information about you and your family.  The provider gives you details about care.  The meeting takes about 1½ to 2 hours.

You meet with a clinical staff member and complete an initial assessment.  We call it a Core Assessment.  The assessment is how the provider gets to know your strengths, needs and cultural preferences.  The next step is to develop an initial plan and identify your immediate needs.  We also identify the person responsible for follow-up actions.

Your assessment helps you identify people in your life who are important to you and can help you reach your goals. These people will become a part of your child’s Child and Family Team (CFT).

What is a CFT?
The Child and Family Team (CFT) is a group of individuals that establish and prioritize goals and identify the supports necessary to reach those goals.  The team includes the child receiving care, his/her family members, and a behavioral health specialist.  

The team may also include any other people who are important in the child’s life, such as extended family members, family support partners, teachers, coaches, church members or clergy.  Other organizations involved with the child, such as the Division of Development Disabilities or Child Protective Services are also encouraged to participate.

Ongoing Care
It takes longer than one session to get to know you.  Follow-up sessions and appointments will be scheduled.  You may meet with a nurse, psychiatrist, case manager or others.  The Child and Family Team (CFT) will help you reach your long-range goals.

Throughout the length of care, your CFT monitors progress and determines whether you are ready to begin a transition to fewer services and increased natural supports.