DMAS Estimates That Over 15,000 Families Currently Receive MHSS/IIH Services Statewide.
Your MHSS/IIH Services Aren’t Ending – They’re Evolving (Here’s Your Checklist)
If your child receives Mental Health Skill Building (MHSS) or Intensive In-Home (IIH) services in Virginia…
You’ve probably heard whispers about “June 30, 2026” at your last CSB meeting.
Maybe your case manager mentioned it in passing.
Maybe another parent texted you a screenshot of a confusing DMAS memo.
Maybe you’re reading this at 11pm after Googling “Is Virginia cutting MHSS services 2026” because your teen’s progress has been so good and you’re terrified of losing momentum.
Here’s what’s actually happening:
Virginia isn’t ending mental health services on June 30, 2026.
The state is upgrading the model – MHSS and IIH end as Medicaid-covered services on June 30, 2026, and are replaced July 1, 2026 by Community Psychiatric Support and Treatment (CPST) and other redesigned services.
But here’s the part that matters to you.
If you don’t understand how the transition works, your child could experience a gap in services between June and September 2026.
This is your 6-month roadmap to making sure that doesn’t happen.
The 3 Questions Every Hampton Roads Family Is Asking Right Now
Question #1: “Is My Child Losing Services?”
Short Answer: No, but the name and structure are changing.
| What’s Staying the Same | What’s Changing |
|---|---|
| ✅ In-home mental health support continues | ❌ “MHSS” and “IIH” labels sunset |
| ✅ Medicaid covers it 100% (if eligible) | ✅ New label: CPST |
| ✅ Your CSB case manager coordinates | ✅ Team-based, evidence-driven model |
Think of it like your phone upgrading from iOS 16 to iOS 17 – same device, better operating system.
Question #2: “Does My Kid Have to Start Over with a New Therapist?”
Short Answer: Not if you’re already working with a CPST-certified provider.
🔵 CDS-Specific Reassurance:
At Community Direct Services, we completed our clinical team’s CPST transition in Q4 2025. If Sarah has been coming to your Virginia Beach home every Tuesday for the past 18 months, Sarah will still be coming every Tuesday – just under the new CPST framework.
If your current provider hasn’t transitioned yet: They must be licensed and approved for CPST before the July 1, 2026 go-live date. If they’re not ready, your CSB may need to reassign you to maintain continuous services. Don’t wait until May to ask.
Question #3: “What If My Child Doesn’t Qualify for the New System?”
Short Answer: The qualification criteria are more needs-based under CPST, not narrower or more restrictive.
The old system (MHSS/IIH) required specific diagnostic codes and rigid definitions.
The new system uses the CANS (Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths) assessment, which focuses on functional impairment and creates two flexible tiers based on actual need.
Translation: Most youth receiving MHSS/IIH are expected to meet criteria for one of the CPST tiers, but final eligibility is based on the CANS assessment and clinical criteria. The real question is which tier.
Understanding the Two Tiers (And Which One Fits Your Child)
Virginia’s new CPST model divides services into two “Levels of Need” (LON) as outlined in the DMAS CPST service definition.
Tier 1: Stability & Skill Maintenance
Typical Hours: 8-12 hours per month
Best For: Youth who have made significant progress and need ongoing support to maintain gains
You’re likely Tier 1 if:
- ✓ No psychiatric hospitalizations in past 12 months
- ✓ Attending school/work consistently (>80% attendance)
- ✓ Using coping skills independently most of the time
- ✓ Family reports stress is “manageable”
Tier 2: Crisis Prevention & Intensive Support
Typical Hours: 20-30 hours per month
Best For: Youth at high risk of psychiatric hospitalization, residential placement, or law enforcement involvement
You’re likely Tier 2 if:
- ⚠️ Psychiatric hospitalization within past 12 months
- ⚠️ Active self-harm behaviors or suicidal ideation
- ⚠️ School expulsion/suspension or chronic truancy (<60% attendance)
- ⚠️ Recent involvement with juvenile justice or CPS
- ⚠️ Parent reports being in “crisis mode”
Can’t tell which tier fits? That’s exactly what the CANS assessment determines. These indicators align with CANS domains and CPST goals, though final placement depends on the full clinical picture.
Contact us, we may be able to help you document the right information before your interview.
🚨 The Assessment That Determines Everything: CANS
The CANS (Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths) isn’t a test your child passes or fails – it’s a conversation about:
- What’s working (strengths to build on)
- What’s not working (needs requiring intervention)
- What keeps you up at night (caregiver stress and family impact)
🔴 Critical Tip:
Don’t minimize struggles to avoid seeming “dramatic.” The assessor needs to hear about the worst weeks, not the average ones.
Example: If your daughter had 2 panic attacks in December that prevented school attendance, but has been stable in January, the assessor needs to hear about December. Tier placement is based on risk without support, not current snapshot behavior.
Quick Mistakes to Avoid During the Transition
⚠️ Don’t Make These 4 Common Errors:
- Assuming “stable = less services.” The CANS looks at risk without support, not current status. Say: “She’s stable because she has weekly sessions.”
- Forgetting to bring documentation. Hospital discharge papers, school suspension letters, crisis text threads – case managers change, notes get lost.
- Waiting for your CSB to call. With 15,000+ families transitioning, call them by February 15 to schedule your CANS.
- Assuming your provider is handling it. Ask TODAY: “Are you becoming CPST-certified? When?” Vague answers = start looking elsewhere now.
Your 6-Month Timeline (What Happens When)
January – March 2026: Assessment Phase
CSBs are expected to schedule CANS assessments for current MHSS/IIH families during this window to prepare for the July 1 transition.
Action: If you haven’t received a call/letter by February 15, contact your CSB directly:
- Hampton-Newport News CSB: (757) 788-0300 | hnncsb.org
- Norfolk CSB: (757) 756-5600 | norfolk.gov/csb
- Chesapeake: VACSB directory
- Virginia Beach: (757) 385-0888 | hs.virginiabeach.gov
Say this: “My child receives MHSS services. I’m calling to schedule our CANS assessment for the CPST transition. Do you have my current contact info on file?”
April – May 2026: Authorization Phase
Authorizations are expected to be issued before the July 1 go-live. You should receive your new service authorization showing:
- ✓ Service type: CPST (replacing MHSS/IIH)
- ✓ Tier level: 1 or 2
- ✓ Authorized hours per month
- ✓ Effective date: July 1, 2026
If you disagree with your tier: Virginia Medicaid has an appeals process. Your provider (like CDS) can help you file.
June 1-30, 2026: Transition Month
Your current services continue under the old authorization. Behind the scenes, your provider updates billing codes and finalizes staff credentials.
June 30, 11:59pm: Old MHSS/IIH authorizations expire.
July 1, 12:01am: New CPST authorizations go live.
✅ What your child experiences (at CDS): Nothing. Same person, same day of the week, same living room couch. The only change is the paperwork we submit to Medicaid. (Note: Continuity depends on your provider’s licensing and staffing – ask them directly if you’re with another agency.)
Why Community Direct Services Is Already Ready
While some providers are still “figuring out” the CPST transition, CDS completed our clinical team’s certification in Q4 2025 – 6 months ahead of the deadline.
What “Already Transitioned” Means for You:
- ✅ Staff ready: 100% of clinical team CPST-certified (completed training Oct-Dec 2025)
- ✅ Tech ready: Digital CANS platform with real-time scoring + billing system tested with DMAS since December 2025
- ✅ Evidence-based modules: DBT, CBT, and Trauma-Focused interventions tailored to CANS results (not generic “check-box” plans)
The Continuity Promise:
Current CDS clients: Your QMHP already knows the CPST model. Your normal session doesn’t change – Jessica just has better tools to help your son now.
New to CDS? We’re accepting new CPST clients but capacity is limited:
- Norfolk: 8 openings
- Virginia Beach: 12 openings
- Chesapeake: 6 openings
- Hampton/Newport News: 10 openings
(Updated Jan 15, 2026 – We cap caseloads at 12 families per QMHP vs. 18-20 that we typically see in the field)
Your Next Step: The 15-Minute CPST Readiness Check
Before your CSB schedules your CANS assessment, get clarity on what to expect:
On this free call, we’ll:
- ✓ Review your child’s current MHSS/IIH authorization
- ✓ Predict likely tier placement (1 or 2) based on recent history
- ✓ Identify documentation “red flags” that could delay transition
- ✓ Walk through CANS prep so you’re not caught off-guard
- ✓ Confirm CDS capacity in your area (if considering a switch)
No obligation, no sales pitch – just a parent-to-provider conversation about making sure June 30th doesn’t become July 15th with a 2-week service gap.
Schedule Your Free CPST Readiness Check →
Or Call Our Hampton Roads Team Directly:
📞 757-965-4899
📧 info@cdsva.com
⏰ Mon-Fri, 9:30am-4:30pm EST
Current CDS Clients:
You’ll receive a personalized transition letter by February 1, 2026 with your specific timeline.
Questions before then? Your QMHP’s direct number is on your last service note.
Additional Resources
Official Guidance:
- DMAS CPST Service Definition (Official policy document)
- DBHDS Children & Youth Services (State oversight)
- CANS Assessment Overview (Praed Foundation)
Local Support:
- Virginia CSB Directory (Find your local board)
- NAMI Virginia (Family advocacy)
- Medicaid Appeals Process (If you disagree with tier placement)
P.S. If you’re reading this at 11pm because you just learned about the June 30th deadline, it’s okay.
You found this post in January, which means you have 6 months to prepare instead of 6 weeks. That’s the difference between a smooth transition and a scramble.
At Community Direct Services, we’ve served Hampton Roads families through every legislative change since 2015.
The CPST transition is just the latest chapter, and we’re already 6 months ahead so your family doesn’t have to be.
