In-Home Behavioral Support: What DCF Families Should Know
A gentle introduction to intensive in-home and in-community services for children.
When a child needs behavioral support, families are often introduced to a set of acronyms with very little explanation. Here's what the main ones actually mean.
IIH — Intensive In-Home Behavioral Services
A clinician works with the child and family in the home, building a behavior support plan and coaching caregivers to carry it forward. Sessions are typically several hours a week over a few months.
IIC — Intensive In-Community Services
Similar support, delivered where the behavior actually occurs — school, community settings, or wherever the child struggles most.
ISS — Individual Support Services
One-on-one support with daily routines, social skills and community participation.
How services are authorized
Most services flow through the Children's System of Care (CSOC) via PerformCare. A Care Management Organization or Mobile Response team assesses need and authorizes services.
What families should expect
Progress is rarely linear. The most successful cases are the ones where caregivers are treated as partners rather than observers — ask your clinician to teach you the strategies directly.
Helena works in partnership with DCF to deliver IIH, IIC, ISS and pediatric private duty nursing across New Jersey.
