Residential Treatment Center Project

The Children’s Mental Health Residential Treatment Center (RTC) Project supports families with a child at risk of entering the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) conservatorship due to the child’s mental health care needs. Prior to being referred to the RTC Project, the family should exhaust community mental health resources with the local mental health authority (LMHA) or local behavioral health authority (LBHA) or prior community mental health services available in their local community. Exhaustion of community resources also includes Post-Adopt services through DFPS (if applicable). Once community resources are exhausted, the RTC Project:

• Works with the family to connect them to mental health services available in their community through their LMHA or LBHA to process their child’s referral; and
• Pays for the cost of room and board at an RTC to meet a child’s mental health needs.

Eligibility Requirements:

• The child is a resident of Texas.
• The child is younger than 18 years old.
• The child has a qualifying serious emotional disturbance.
• There is no current abuse or neglect in the household.
• The family may be placing their child into DFPS custody because of the seriousness of their child’s mental health needs.
• The family will support the mental health needs of their child throughout the RTC Project treatment process.

RTC services include:

• Weekly individual and group therapy with a licensed clinician
• Weekly family therapy with a licensed clinician
• Medication management
• Ongoing medical care on a routine and as needed basis
• Educational services
• Social, recreational, and habilitative services, which support or improve a person’s daily living

How to Become an RTC Provider

Residential treatment centers contract directly with HHSC and agree to provide comprehensive residential treatment services as outlined in the statement of work. RTCs must apply through the Open Enrollment  webpage.

Provider Forms

• Form 2816: Residential Treatment Center Project Referral Checklist
• Form 2817: Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) or Local Behavioral Health Authority (LBHA) Monthly Report
• Form 2818: Critical Incident Report
• Form 2822: Notification of Change in RTC Project Case Status

Application Forms for RTC Placement

• Form 2823: Local Mental and Behavioral Health Authority Referral
• Form 2087: Application for Placement
• Form 3301: Residential Treatment Center Project Family Agreement

Resources

• Residential Treatment Center Project: Information for Families, Children and Adolescents, and Community Members English PDF | Spanish PDF
• Visit the HHSC site for current reimbursement rates for 24 Hour Residential Child Care providers.
• Family Guide: Children’s Mental Health Services (PDF)
• Children’s Mental Health: Residential Treatment Center Project (PDF)

Statutes/Rules

• Texas Family Code, Chapter 262.351

Email RTC Project for more information.