Youth Empowerment Services (YES) is a program that helps children and youth under the age of 18 who are identified as having serious emotional disturbance gain access to the mental health services they need. Serious Emotional Disturbance refers to people who have a mental, behavioral or emotional issue that limits their ability to participate in family, school, or community activities. A person is identified as having Serious Emotional Disturbance if they have both a qualifying diagnosable mental illness and a substantial functional impairment.
Treatment through the YES program is available for eligible families under 300% FPL. To find out if you are eligible for YES, your child will need to be assessed by an independent assessor. If this assessment identifies a functional impairment, you can apply for Medicaid, using the 300% FPL. (Normal Medicaid has a limit of 190%FPL.) Families above 300% will be able to access YES through a cost-sharing program.
For more information on Youth Empowerment Services (YES), please visit www.yes.idaho.gov.