PEP Connections exists to support young people whose mental health issues significantly impact their ability to manage daily life within the school, home and community environments.

Positive Education Program, through PEP Connections, will serve as Care Management Entity (CME) for OhioRISE in central Cuyahoga County. Youth served by PEP Connections are typically on track for deeper system involvement, often including residential treatment, psychiatric hospitalization, juvenile court placement and the like. Using a strength-based and trauma-informed approach, PEP Connections helps young people and their families reach the highest quality of life possible.

Achieving Results

Through a trauma-informed lens, PEP Connections provides care for children with deep system involvement.

99% of parents of PEP Connections clients feel that they are treated as a full partner in the process.

Program Details

PEP Connections delivers the following services:

  • As a CME for OhioRISE, PEP Connections delivers Care Coordination (Intensive and Moderate), a service designed to help young people and their families achieve person-centered family-driven change and achieve goals they have for their family by developing a plan to address their needs and removing barriers that may impede progress. The goal is to help youth and families develop a long term, sustainable plan that will support them in improved functioning long after CME involvement. The Child and Family Team is diligent in removing barriers to care, driving care in the system of care approach, and facilitating creative, flexible planning to support the family and young person. Learn more about care coordination with PEP and whether it may be right for your family here.
  • Intensive Home-Based Treatment (IHBT) is an intensive home-based family therapy service designed for youth who have certain diagnoses. The IHBT therapist will engage the whole family in therapy sessions, which occur twice a week for a total of three to six hours. This is a time-limited service, which lasts for six months.

Learn more about PEP Connections here.

“When I need a partner, PEP Connections is my first call as I can count on their vast expertise, accessibility and creativity.”

Molly Wimbiscus, M.D., child and adolescent psychiatrist, Cleveland Clinic

Initiating a Referral to OhioRISE

Referrals are navigated through the OhioRISE system. There are multiple avenues for referrals to be made:

  • Contact OhioRISE Member Services at -833-711-0773 (TTY: 711) from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and Aetna Better Health of Ohio will work with the youth, their MCO, to coordinate a referral for a CANS Assessment to determine eligibility for the OhioRISE program.
  • Contact the youth’s MCO, or if they are in fee-for-service Medicaid, the Medicaid Consumer hotline 1-800-324-8680 (TTY: 1-800-292-3572) to initiate a referral for a CANS assessment within one business day as a means to determine eligibility for the OhioRISE program.

PEP Connections can also help with referral navigation. Call 216-361-2441.

Who Qualifies for OhioRISE?

Children and youth who may be eligible for OhioRISE:

  • Are eligible for Ohio Medicaid (either managed care or fee-for-service),
  • Are age 0-20,
  • Are not enrolled in a MyCare Ohio plan; and
  • Require significant behavioral health treatment, measured using the Ohio Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment.

Children and youth may also be eligible for OhioRISE because of certain urgent conditions, as for example, if a child or youth is in a hospital for behavioral health reasons or is admitted into a Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility.