Need Inexpensive or Free Counseling for a 6 Year Old with No Insurance

Hi N.,

I work at the UNT Dallas Campus. We have a counseling clinic that is free to the community. They see adults and children. The number is ###-###-####.

The University of Arlington Graduate Social Work Department used to have a free child counseling center staffed by graduate student interns. I worked there when I was in graduate school back in 1998-1999. I don't know if they still have it but if you are in the Arlington area it would be worth looking into.

If he is in public school, the school's counselor may be able to work with him or give you advice on how to get assistance.
Good luck, the children are blessed to have caring adults to love them and take care of them. Good luck!

If you have him enrolled in school, check with the school counselor. They will be able to provide some counseling at the school and will be able to give you information on places that do sliding scale fees or even free counseling. If you are members of a church or other religous organization, most of them provide counsling resources as well, again usually free to little charge. Other ideas are the United Way, Salvation Army, and checking with your local health department or hopsital. If they don't have the resources on site, they will be able to give you names of places to contact. Hope that helps and good luck!

Check around and see if there is an Andrews Center any where near you. They are free and if any medication is needed that is free also. If that doesn't work, call the local medicaid office and let them know what is going on and they will tell you what other options there is. We are going through kind of the same thing but with just 1 boy who is 6. Good luck!

Try the churches in your area. They usually have counselors that provide free services.

Contact Life Builders in Sunnyvale. Their phones number is Phone: ###-###-####. My aunt is a counselor there and I know that they will do counseing based on your income so you might check with them. I would also suggest checking with a church. Most pastor's would be willing to sit down with you also.

JPS is a state <?> run low cost medical program. My husband and I use this and were told that if our children are not eligible for medicade we could enroll them in the program. I don't know if this would work for your nephews, but you might want to try. http://www.jpshealthnet.org/
You mentioned they weren't eligible for Medicade... is this because you make to much or because you aren't their legal guardians? If it is the former, they might be eligible for the CHIP program... https://www.yourtexasbenefits.com/wps/portal
gl to you.
K.
Mansfiled, TX
Mom to four wonderful kids

Are you SURE you can not put them on Medicaid? What about CHIPS? Oh and BTW Medicare is typically not fot kids. Do ya'll have legal guardianship? If so, it should not be a problem. My aunt has guardianship over her grandkids while my cousin is away getting help for her issues. My aunt was also able to recieve assistance w/child care too! Good luck to you and your family. My hats off to you and your hubby for keeping the boys together and for accepting the task of raising other people's kiddos! It takes a village to raise a family sometimes! ;o)

Eliyah

N.,
If you are unable to qualify for any of the free programs you may want to check out AmeriPlan. AmeriPlan is a discount health benefits company. ANYONE qualifies, no age limits, all ongoing conditions are accepted. You can receive a health plan for both children (actually it will still cover your entire household) for about $30/mo and it will include discounts on mental health care. If you want a dental plan with that it is only $10/mo more (for entire household; no per person). It also includes discounts on vision, prescription drugs and chiropractic care. I use it myself and have been very happy with it. Go to www.DNShealth.net or call 1-800-324-0452. Best wishes.

Go to the childs school and ask them if they have any outside help for counseling. We talked to my ss school and they gave us alot of information for cheap if not free services. Hope this helps.

~C.

Depending on what part of the metroplex you are in, I would suggest the Brief Therapy Institute ###-###-#### - ask for Graciela Montoni & explain your situation. This office is not in a great part of town (Oak Cliff) but all of the therapists in the office are GREAT & are in their profession for the RIGHT reasons - to help children & their families. They are often willing to work with you on costs & are flexible with their office hours. Our family has used them off and on for about 15 years & we think they are wonderful! Also, I'm not sure why you can't get Medicaid on your nephews - if you think it's because you make too much money, you should check into the CHIPs program. If you haven't tried, I would go ahead & attempt to apply, regardless of why you think you might not qualify. You would be surprised how helpful & willing to work with you some of the Medicaid offices are. Hope this helps! I will say a prayer for your family!

If you are going to have them for an extended time, you might want to get a court order giving you temporary custody and ordering you to carry health insurance. Then your husband's ins. can add them. If not, you might look to the Child Study Center for assistance. If they have been placed with you by CPS, they should offer services, but are often terribly slow in providing those. Hope that helps! J. D., attorney and mom

I just met with a group of crisis counselors for a project at work. They have many opportunities for inexpensive counseling through the school district. They are licensed counselors and have a great passion for working with children. I would second the suggestion to check with your school district.

Each health insurance plan is different. I would talk to the plan administrator and find out what the criteria is for an eligible dependent.

I worked in benefits for awhile and the plans I worked with required legal guardianship which is a good thing to get anyway if you have care of the children in the event they require medical care. I don't know all the legal details but I don't understand it to be a permanent thing like adoption, in the event the parents resume care of the the children.

I would call around to local universities in the area. When my hubby was working on his masters in counseling, they worked with families on a sliding scale for payment. It was a win-win for everyone! they got their "practice" (all supervised by professors of course) and families received top notch counseling at a reasonable price! Be sure to let his teacher know what is going on also... as a kindergarten teacher of 16 years, major transitions like this can really affect their school work and behavior. She can be a vital part of working with him and your family!

The Warm Place in Fort Worth.

Most large local churches have certified counselors on staff and can work with you on a sliding scale. Some families may end up paying nothing or being subsidized by the church. If you live in Collin County, there is a child advocacy center. You might give them a call, too; they probably know all the places that offer sliding scale counseling. Good luck with your situation.

You all ready have this suggestion but I was going to suggest TWU. We have used their services for our youngest and they do a really good job. The fee worked out to $25 a session. They have you meet with the same therapist each time so you are not going in and getting someone new every time.

Hello, You are an inspiration to all!! I can not imagine how hard it may be to have little ones and then to take on more. If there is a lot of emotional issues that adds a whole other set of responsibilities. Please always remember that you all may be the only chance that these kids have. We need more heroes like you. I don't know if you are involved in a church but I know that my church has some amazing counseling programs or if you know of a good church in your area they may be able to help or refer you somewhere. "My Church is Lakepointe in Rockwall" I am have never been real involved other tah njust going to church there. I don't know who to tell you to talk to but they do have an awesome children program and that office should be able to refer you to somewhere. Another group that takes in children that have been taken away from their parents is called "Jonathon's Place" I am not sure if they may be able to give you some advice there number ###-###-#### they also have a website.
My prayers are for you and your family

I am a grandmother who is raising two grandchildren (age 7 & 9). The school was a great help in directing us toward counceling for them. University of North Texas has a department for Play Therapy and the fee is based on income or the childs need with no insurance. It is a fantastic program and we recieved advisory counceling also. We took a 10 week course on how to do "play therapy" at home and it has been a BIG help to us. We were given a work book and we meet once a week with the councelor so it wasn't like we had to go to school for this class. I would also recommend that you get the book "Parenting with Love and Logic". that is a wonderful book and full of lots of help.

God bless you and your husband for taking on the task of his nephews. Children shouldn't have to bare their parents mistakes.

You might want to look into a Children's hospital Dallas & Plano. I think they have a program that's a clinical study including child psychology & psychiatry, with everything paid for. I don't know all the specifics, but maybe you could check into that. I am so sorry about your situation, hate to hear about kids going through bad times. I really hope you find something!! Good Luck.

try the 6year olds school counselor
or
Texas Womans' university: Counseling and Family Development Department ###-###-####
Discounted counseling given by Graduate/master's level/Ph.D level students under the supervision of their professors.

Try Child Study Center in Fort Worth and check with area churches that have counseling. I know Lake Arlington Baptist Church has a counseling center. A.

I'd check with a local church. They aren't licensed therapist, however, they can always listen or they might be able to recommend someone.

Try the Texas Baptist Home. They have free services and can refer you to other free services.

Is he in school? If so the school counselor can do it or at the least give you recomendations on where to go. When we were doing my daughter's step parent adoption her school counselor not only talked to her several times but gave us several referals. And going through the school it free.
If he's not I would see about getting temp custody so that you can get him some type of medical insurance. There has to be something they can receive through the system under these circumstances.

There is a wonderful place in Arlington called Fourth Street, they go on income and individual circumstances. If you can't pay, that's fine. Or maybe you can try your church, they often have free or cheap counceling. Good Luck!

Hi N.,

I am a former teacher (now a stay at home mommy). Many schools have free counseling programs for the child or family. Most school districts provide a traveling counselor who goes to different campuses on a daily basis. I recommend checking with the counseling program at the local school.
L.

N., you didn't say where you lived, but the Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home in Denton may be able to help you. I know that they have done counseling on a sliding scale for many people...may even be free. Please check to see if you can't receive Medicaid for these two children. The Home may be able to help with that also. Their phone number is ###-###-####. Excellent, caring staff.

If you have court ordered custody then you might be able to add them to your insurance. Is the 6 year in school? If so go to the school and ask them for help. If there is an MHMR clinic in your area, call them.

I would also recommend the Child Study Center in Ft. Worth. They base services on a sliding scale and also may be able to help with legal.

God Bless you for opening your home & hearts.
I was a foster parent several years ago & I believe you should be able to get them on Medicaid or chips. Maybe that would help. There are several types of counselors that take donations instead of set fees.
If I knew what area you were in I could possiably help you find someone for counseling. My grand-daughters had a wonderful Equine theropy counselor in Alvord, Tx. That maybe way out of your way but there are several in N. Tx. If you need help finding one I will do my best if you say the word. Or I can get Ken's number & perhaps he would know someone in your area.
God be with you & yours.I know you will be truly Blessed in your new life.

Contact the Social Services office of the County where you live. They have different counseling programs that should help your nephew either free or at a low rate. Good luck.

Hi N.,
If your nephew is in public school, he should have access to the school counselor. Counseling can be provided on a regular basis without a fee. If he's not in public school, you could still contact the nearest elementary and speak to the counselor, who may have information about counselors and therapists in the area. Principals and counselors usually have access to that information for their families.
Leanne

Hi Nicole,

I bet it is never boring at your house. I really want to commend you and your husband for taken on this task of raising your nephew. You are very special. I think there are some groups you can take your nephew to. I will check on it for you.

V. Smith
You can work at home too.
www.iboplus.com/vsmith361

I'm a school counselor. We are trained to refer after about 6 visits (about the same issues). One of the places that we refer to is the Family Resource Center. The fees are a sliding scale (based on what you make). The Walsh Counseling Center at the Seminary in south FW is also good with a sliding scale.
The bigger issue will be if you have legal custodial rights to make health decisions for the children. If you don't, really no one should talk to them. The school shouldn't even let you enroll without that though, so you probably have that.
Best wishes.