DCFS Community-based Services
Child Welfare Information: 559-453-6678
Children's Mental Health Information: 559-453-8405
The Department of Children and Family Services offers a variety of services to the community aimed at strengthening families. Parents, school nurses, teachers and community family service agencies may also direct families to voluntarily seek intervention and prevention assistance.
Additionally, children’s mental health crisis services, assessment, intervention and stabilization, referral and linkage to services, are provided 24 hours, 365 days per year for children in crisis. Mobile outreach is provided in the Fresno metropolitan area on a limited basis.
Parents or expectant parents in need of mental health services, training and/or support to secure a healthy relationship with their child(ren), aged 0 to 5 years, may receive services through the SMART Model of Care Program. The Infant Mental Health Program offers group and individual therapy, parent/child play therapy and assistance services to parents of children aged 0 to 3 years, having a goal to strengthening their attachment to their child.
Families may also obtain services through their child’s school. The Department maintains programs at seventeen (17) elementary schools in several school districts and, in collaboration with the Probation Department and school personnel, seeks to resolve barriers to academic success. For children with disruptive behavior in school, the Incredible Years Program provides parent, child and teacher training aimed at reducing the disruptive behavior and promoting academic achievement.
Voluntary Family Maintenance (VFM) services include counseling and domestic violence classes, emergency shelter care, respite care, and parenting training. Participation in this program is limited to families identified as the result of a CPS contact.
Community-based mental health services are available for children aged 18 and under at the following locations throughout Fresno County. Not all services are available at all locations. Home-based services, including case-management, are provided on a limited basis. For more information, please call 559-453-4309. Service locations include 3133 North Millbrook Avenue, Fresno; 3800 McCall Avenue, Selma; 30 East Minarets, Pinedale; 225 Academy, Sanger; 275 South Madera Avenue, Kerman.
Services include assessment, linkage to treatment, individual, family and group therapy, psychiatric evaluation, medication services and case management.