Specialized Family Support Program (SFSP)

The Specialized Family Support Program (SFSP) is a 90-day program of crisis stabilization, community mental health, and assessment services, developed in response to the Custody Relinquishment Prevention Act (Public Act 98-0808). It is a collaborative effort between the Illinois Departments of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), Children and Family Services (DCFS), Human Services (DHS), Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Public Health (DPH), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), designed to identify the behavioral health needs of youth at risk of custody relinquishment and to link those youth to the most appropriate clinical services. SFSP is an expansion of the Illinois behavioral health crisis response system for youth, jointly utilizing the resources found in the Screening, Assessment and Support Services (SASS), Comprehensive Community-Based Youth Services (CCBYS), and Intensive Placement Stabilization (IPS) programs.