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About

IITS provides clinical case management for adults with I/DD, complex behavioral needs, substance use, and/or involvement with the justice system.  

Services are based upon comprehensive assessments and are offered to adults transitioning out of Porterville Developmental Center (PDC) to specified Step-Down (STAR Homes or EBSH) in the community. IITS also supports people who have already transitioned from PDC. 

 

Services

IITS looks at the challenges a person is facing in the context of their life and relationships. The team provides intensive, individualized services, including: 

  • Performing evidence-based comprehensive risk assessments. 

  • Developing trauma-informed person-centered plans, positive behavior support, and enhanced services for psychiatric systems and specialized needs.  

  • Making recommendations to planning teams including nursing, medical, and psychiatric services. 

  • Pre-transition (PDC and Step-Down homes) assessments/evaluation as identified in individual IITS plans.

  • Evidenced-based therapeutic interventions including adapted, TF-CBT, DBT, and motivational interviewing.

  • Environmental assessments of the community home, including a plan for health and safety. 

  • Community linkages and partnerships. 

Who Is Eligible for IITS?

Adults with I/DD identified by Regional Centers in California to be transitioned from PDC to a Step-Down home or community-based living environment.  

Referrals: Allison Vella, CVRC-IITS Program Liaison iitsreferrals@cvrc.org 

For more information: 
Manuel Ramos - Program Director manuel.ramos@yai.org or Sharon Cyrus-Savary – Clinical Director sharon.cyrus-savary@yai.org 

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Location: 220 S. Mooney Blvd. Suite A, Visalia, CA 93291 

IITS uses the RNR model to develop recommendations

Risk

The level of support that a person receives should be matched to their risk of reoffending

Need

People should be assessed for their unique risk factors for crime

Responsiveness

The person must be provided with interventions that meet their learning style, culture, and motivation

The IITS Team

The Interdisciplinary Team (ITT) is a group of specialists who understand the challenges of supporting people with multiple diagnoses. They include masters-level transition coordinators, a program director, a clinical director, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and other specialists. The team has expertise in forensic mental health, addiction, and psychiatry for people with I/DD and co-occurring mental health diagnoses. 

The ITT works together with the people they support, their families, legal representatives, PDC staff, physicians, psychologists, nurses, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, speech pathologists, teachers, and dietitians. ITT also works with residential care homes and all community providers. 

Community Partnerships

IITS works with the community to access quality support and services for people with I/DD to achieve self-determination and promotes treatment and recovery for people with complex mental illness/substance use disorders. IITS facilitates communication and collaboration between developmental disability, mental health, community, and family networks to improve community support and connections and improve treatment outcomes. The IITS team does not replace any elements of the current service continuum but works together with the person’s support system. 

Crisis Plan Development

ITTS works with providers and the people supported to develop a biopsychosocial plan. The planning process includes understanding the person's challenges, recommending preventive strategies, and identifying specific ways to respond to crises. The IITS team collaborates with local mental health first responders to help stabilize people in crisis. 

The Interdisciplinary Transition Services (IITS) team uses proven methods that have been shown to work. These methods include: 

  • Helping people stay stable, follow their treatment plan, and be involved in their community. This can help reduce the need for people to stay in a restrictive setting. 

  • Working with community resources to help people live in their community safely and independently. 

  • Helping people learn new skills and build confidence. This can help people manage their symptoms and live more independently. 

  • Helping people become more independent and engaged in their lives. 

  • Promoting a healthy lifestyle through evidence-based interventions.