Moved to a new state California Bay Area (Update)

[Sy5636]

Hello Parents,

I wrote a post a couple months ago about moving to the Bay Area and asked for resources. First of Thank you all for the response!

My family moved this summer. So far so good. Weather in Bay Area is great for outdoor activities everyday and even walking to school (we didn't get to do this much outdoor activities in Chicago.....always weather permitting in the Windy City! so its wonderful here). Also, the school I don't having any opinion on it yet since it just started and I am having my first 504 plan meeting next week (he already had one from a previous school). But I do like the shorter school hour because for my son it works for him.

I am really writing this post to see if this is typical in this state as far as psychology/psychiatric care. I have Kaiser insurance (I have mixed feelings about this network so far...good and bad experience for the 1st month of us being here but I will give it a chance.) My son (3rd grader) had his first appointment with a Kaiser psychologist. I have to say I was really disappointed of how things went to today. I brought his psychological evaluation since he already has one but all I received was a flyer to go to a "Parenting a Child with ADHD" class which is booked until November. Even though I asked to seek behavioral therapy and asked if I need more resources than this then what? Is this something they do all the time? I didn't get a clear answer from her when I asked about behavioral therapy. Seems as if we need to try this group parent class first and if that doesn't work then we will seek something else.

Any insight on this will help. Thank you for listening!

[Onthemove1971]

St5636- so excited you are in CA. I hope you get to explore all of the wonderful places, especially in the fall..

We have had Kaiser for over 12 years and really love it. Just know for many things things ( migraines, biofeedback, accupuncture,etc) you have to have a group meeting. But we had had great mental health services. We have a wonderful psychiatrist ( helps with all of our son's medication) and psychologist ( helps with his thearpy). Any medication that is non- stimulant can be mailed to the house. But you have to go in for all controlled drugs.

We are near Sacramento.

[alsing]

We have Kaiser in the Bay Area and they offered one on one appointments with a psychologist for my daughter with adhd so it’s definitely something they do. They recommended a group parenting class too. But that wasn’t required to get one on one help.

[VolcanoMom]

HI! Welcome! For us, we are not with Kaiser, in the Bay Area and are seen by Stanford psychiatrists, which is covered under insurance w/ a co-pay. But, the behaviorialist/psychologist is out of pocket. Mental health care in the Bay Area is impacted and does take a while to get figured out. Make sure to tap into resources at the school to help bridge until you get it sorted out. Hang in there!

Not sure what area you are in, but let us know what we can help with!