Family Services -- no longer charging fees

[Nofear]

The Church's Family Services is now no longer charging fees effective July 5th as stated in a letter that, for the US and Canada, went out to Area Seventies; Stake and District Presidents; Bishops and Branch Presidents; Stake, District, Ward, and Branch Clerks; Directors for Temporal Affairs.

https://providentliving.churchofjesuschrist.org/lds-family-services?lang=eng

[Calm]

That is nice. Hopefully more families will feel comfortable taking advantage of the services. 

[MustardSeed]

Fascinating.  I wonder if bishops will no longer refer and pay for therapists like me.  I’m fine with that. 
 

That said, the joke was in school that if you couldn’t get a job, go work for LDS services- bottom of the barrel quality.  Not sure if that’s true or not. 

[Calm]

2 hours ago, MustardSeed said:

Fascinating.  I wonder if bishops will no longer refer and pay for therapists like me.  I’m fine with that. 
 

That said, the joke was in school that if you couldn’t get a job, go work for LDS services- bottom of the barrel quality.  Not sure if that’s true or not. 

The one therapist we went to was great imo. Got my husband to open up, which was practically a miracle.  
 

My sister’s experience was poor, otoh. There was 20 years’ difference though, hers being the first back in the 80’s. 

Edited July 7, 2023 by Calm

[Tacenda]

Well, good for the church, and can't wait to see more of this help. 

[rpn]

19 hours ago, MustardSeed said:

es- bottom of the barrel quality.

Well it was paying bottom of the barrel wages and it was at least at first reluctant to assure that those they hired were skilled in effective therapies or used them (making every conflict a challenge of authority), at least in the circles that I was privy to.

[Calm]

1 hour ago, rpn said:

Well it was paying bottom of the barrel wages and it was at least at first reluctant to assure that those they hired were skilled in effective therapies or used them (making every conflict a challenge of authority), at least in the circles that I was privy to.

I know 20 years ago, the recently appointed man in charge was hoping to have a Ph.D supervising in at least each location that had significant numbers, but I had my discussion with him at the beginning of his efforts, so I don’t know how that went.

[Vanguard]

Just saw this OP. This is definitely good news for the member masses. I used to work as an independent therapist contractor for whatever ward/stake I was in due to the fact that where I lived in CA was too far for members to travel to an LDS Family Services. This will make it so much easier for rural families to receive services. Of course, that x's me out of a supplemental income stream. Se la vie... ; )

[bluebell]

22 minutes ago, Vanguard said:

Just saw this OP. This is definitely good news for the member masses. I used to work as an independent therapist contractor for whatever ward/stake I was in due to the fact that where I lived in CA was too far for members to travel to an LDS Family Services. This will make it so much easier for rural families to receive services. Of course, that x's me out of a supplemental income stream. Se la vie... ; )

You don't think your services will still be needed?

[MustardSeed]

16 minutes ago, bluebell said:

You don't think your services will still be needed?

I am in the same boat. I may still get Bishop referrals and the church may still pay for those services because I specialize and have a reputation. However, if the Bishop has a free option, logic suggests that they will go that route. However, a few years ago, social services made it clear that they only deal with problems that preclude people from going to the temple. They were pushing everything else out to independents. It’ll be interesting to see what changes this creates for therapists.
Only about 5% of my income is church referrals/church paid.

[Vanguard]

35 minutes ago, MustardSeed said:

I am in the same boat. I may still get Bishop referrals and the church may still pay for those services because I specialize and have a reputation. However, if the Bishop has a free option, logic suggests that they will go that route. However, a few years ago, social services made it clear that they only deal with problems that preclude people from going to the temple. They were pushing everything else out to independents. It’ll be interesting to see what changes this creates for therapists.
Only about 5% of my income is church referrals/church paid.

What area do you live in now? We moved up here (SL valley) ~4-5 years ago and I found there were simply too many viable options for members to pursue. I haven't offered my LDS therapy services since leaving CA in 2018.

Edited July 12, 2023 by Vanguard

[Kenngo1969]

On 7/12/2023 at 10:37 AM, Vanguard said:

What area do you live in now? We moved up here (SL valley) ~4-5 years ago and I found there were simply too many viable options for members to pursue. I haven't offered my LDS therapy services since leaving CA in 2018.

If it's not too much in-real-life information (though I think you're pretty safe: California's a big place ) where were you in California? 

[Vanguard]

11 minutes ago, Kenngo1969 said:

If it's not too much in-real-life information (though I think you're pretty safe: California's a big place ) where were you in California? 

We were in the Palm Spring area before moving up here though my remote location was in Blythe (along the AZ/CA border) earlier in the 2000s. Our temple district at that time was Las Vegas if you can believe it! Any Family Services help required the 'Blytheans' to trek 4 hours north. I saw an opportunity and began counseling members of the Lake Havasu Stake of which the Blythe Ward is a part.

Edited July 20, 2023 by Vanguard

[Kenngo1969]

3 hours ago, Vanguard said:

We were in the Palm Spring area before moving up here though my remote location was in Blythe (along the AZ/CA border) earlier in the 2000s. Our temple district at that time was Las Vegas if you can believe it! Any Family Services help required the 'Blytheans' to trek 4 hours north. I saw an opportunity and began counseling members of the Lake Havasu Stake of which the Blythe Ward is a part.

Duuuude!    A thousand years ago, when I was in the California San Diego Mission, the Mission included all of San Diego and Imperial Counties and took in that part of Arizona, too.   (It was quite large. )

[Vanguard]

3 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said:

Duuuude!    A thousand years ago, when I was in the California San Diego Mission, the Mission included all of San Diego and Imperial Counties and took in that part of Arizona, too.   (It was quite large. )

Yes, and still very rural. El Centro has grown but not too much.

[BlueDreams]

On 7/12/2023 at 10:03 AM, MustardSeed said:

I am in the same boat. I may still get Bishop referrals and the church may still pay for those services because I specialize and have a reputation. However, if the Bishop has a free option, logic suggests that they will go that route. However, a few years ago, social services made it clear that they only deal with problems that preclude people from going to the temple. They were pushing everything else out to independents. It’ll be interesting to see what changes this creates for therapists.
Only about 5% of my income is church referrals/church paid.

I would hope it wouldn't change too much. I could be remembering wrong, but ldsfs is more set up as a generalist short term therapy solution where I live. After a certain number sessions they usually refer out to more specialized or longer therapy options in the community. But It's been a while since I've thought about this and could absolutely be wrong. 

 

With luv,

BD