Early Newborn Observations (ENO)

The ENO is a structured set of observations designed to help the clinician and parent together, to observe the infant's behavioral capacities and identify the kind of support the infant needs for his successful growth and development. It is a relationship-based tool designed to foster the parent-infant relationship. The ENO system consists of a set of 18 neurobehavioral observations, which describe the newborn's capacities and behavioral adaptation from birth to the third month of life. While it describes the infant's capacities, the ENO provides parents with individualized information about their infant's behavior, so that they can appreciate their baby's unique competencies and vulnerabilities and thereby understand and respond to their baby, in a way that meets her/his developmental needs. The 18 ENO items include observations of the infant's

• capacity to habituate to external light and sound stimuli (sleep protection)
• the quality of motor tone and activity level
• capacity for self-regulation (including crying and consolability)
• response to stress (indices of the infant's threshold for stimulation)
• visual, auditory and social-interactive capacities (degree of alertness and response to both human and non-human stimuli)

While the ENO attempts to reveal the full richness of the newborn's behavioral repertoire, the clinical focus is on the infant's individuality, on the aspects of behavior that make the baby unique and different. In other words, the ENO provides the baby with a "voice", with a "signature". It gives the baby an opportunity to tell the caregiver who he or she is, if you will, what her preferences are and what her vulnerabilities might be and in what areas she may need support. By providing this behavioral profile of the infant's strengths and challenges, the ENO can provide clinicians with the kind of individualized guidance that can help parents meet their baby's needs. This, in turn, will help the parents develop the kind of confidence they need to support their baby's development and enjoy the experience of being a new parent.

While the ENO was developed to meet the needs of parents, it is designed in its ease of use to be a helpful tool for professionals who work with parents during the perinatal period. It is flexible and can easily integrated into routine home visits. The ENO, therefore, was designed as a relationship-building method that can be flexibly administered and that offers individualized information to parents about their baby, with a view to promoting a positive bond between parent and child and between themselves and the parents and family. For that reason, the ENO is best understood as a relationship-building tool. It is inherently interactive and family-centered, because parents are involved as partners in the ENO session throughout.

Children’s System of Care

Children’s System of Care (CSOC) provides service to children with moderate to severe emotional and behavioral problems. Services include:  therapeutic assessments; individual and family therapy; case management/rehabilitation services; full service partnerships through the Mental Health Services Act; crisis services and coordination for psychiatric and medication services. Staff members work collaboratively with schools and other agencies throughout Lassen County to promote family unity and strengthen community support systems.

Integrative Approach

Our CSOC staff provides a family centered, individualized, community based, strength focused, needs driven collaborative approach to mental health treatment. A team of professional Behavioral Health clinicians and specialists work together with local schools, Lassen County Probation, Child & Family Services, and other community members to ensure the family reaches their goals.

Medi-Cal Services for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT)

EPSDT services are extra Medi-Cal services that are in addition to other Medi-Cal services.  EPSDT services improve medical and mental health problems.  These problems may include but are not limited to sadness, nervousness, or anger that makes one’s life difficult. You must be under age 21 and have full scope Medi-Cal to get these services. Types of EPSDT services include: individual, group and family therapy, crisis counseling, case management, rehabilitation services/life skills training, Intensive Care Coordination (ICC), Intensive Home-Based Services (IHBS), Therapeutic Behavioral Services, and psychiatric services (medication).

Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS)

Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) provide help and support to children, youth, and young adults (under age 21) who have challenging behaviors, are having difficulty maintaining their current placement, are being placed in or discharged from a Short-Term Residential Treatment Program (STRTP) or have had a psychiatric hospitalization within the past 24 months. A home and community based, short-term, intensive service, TBS is provided for an average of three – six months. The specialist assists the client and caregiver with the development of structure and new learning experiences that promotes mental and behavioral stability, healthy pro-social behavioral and supports the family in gaining new life skills.

Intensive Services

Children and youth with extensive mental health needs are provided Intensive Services outlined in the “Core Practice Model” (CPM). For children and youth involved in both mental health and a child welfare agency, the CPM requires collaboration between child welfare and mental health staff, service providers, and community tribal partners working with the children, youth and families. The CPM articulates a family-centered approach that intends to improve coordination and collaboration among mental health, child welfare, and children and families involved with the child welfare system who have mental health needs.  Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings are held to facilitate coordination and collaboration.  Core Intensive Services are Intensive Care Coordination (ICC) and intensive Home Based Services (IHBS).  Children and youth with extensive mental health needs but who are not involved in a Child Welfare agency are also eligible for Intensive Services. 

CSOC Full Services Partner

Children identified as a full services partner (FSP) through the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), are eligible for enhanced services. CSOC FSP is a strengths-based approach to assist children and their families to create positive change and reach their goals.