Vaya Health and Eliada Home’s Care Facilities Dedicated to Nurturing Children’s Well-Being

As part of Vaya Health’s comprehensive services, Vaya operates treatment cottages and emergency respite facilities with Eliada, a non-profit agency in Asheville that provides a cradle-to-career continuum of services for over 400 children and youth annually. The emergency respite facilities are now open to provide assistance for the youth of our communities. The treatment cottages will open in mid-July. Treatment cottages and emergency respite facilities programs play a vital role in stabilizing children, offering assessments, and providing appropriate treatment and placement recommendations.

Vaya Health’s treatment cottage is a licensed level 3 program designed to stabilize children and guide them toward receiving the necessary treatment and placement recommendations. The primary goal is to address the needs of children by providing updated clinical assessments and providing them with tools for successful recovery and development.

The emergency respite facility is a licensed program that offers short-term support to children between the ages of 6 and 17. This service is especially beneficial when children require temporary care between placements or to prevent placement disruptions. The length of stay in this program is limited to 14 days.

The treatment cottage and emergency respite facilities provide much-needed services to a specific target population. To be eligible for these services, individuals must meet the following criteria:

• Males and females between the ages of 6 and 17.
• Active Medicaid eligibility within Vaya Health’s service region.
• Diagnosis of mental health or mild intellectual and developmental disability.

Referrals for the emergency respite facilities are managed by Fast Track, which started in early March 2023. Fast Track is a coordinated, expedited response team of care managers who assist in emergent residential treatment needs identified by community partners. Care Management will collaborate with Fast Track and follow their instructions for submitting referrals based on acuity and member needs. Priority will be given to individuals currently residing or at risk of residing at the Department of Social Services (DSS).

Vaya Health’s treatment cottages and emergency respite facilities are crucial resources in supporting children with mental health or mild I/DD diagnoses. These programs play an integral role in the well-being and development of children in need by providing a stabilizing environment, necessary assessments, and appropriate treatment recommendations. The capacity of these facilities ensures that a limited number of individuals can receive focused care, promoting positive outcomes for each child. Vaya Health remains dedicated to serving the community, collaborating with referral teams, and ensuring the smooth transition and continuity of care for those in need of these vital services.