Throughout the country, duplication of mental health service is a major problem. In graduate school, mental health professionals are taught that consumers seeing multiple therapists can be detrimental. It tends to confuse consumers and doesn't create for a therapeutic alliance and promotes "splitting"and limits effectiveness. That said, in accord with sound ethical practice, SCCMHA doesn't generally provide ongoing services to someone actively receiving such care elsewhere.
Throughout the human service industry, some believe "more is better." However, the more services in one's home, the greater chance duplication will occur--primarily due to the lack of collaboration and coordination among service providers.
Human service systems, by nature, operate in silos. Good coordination and collaboration is difficult among agencies. In part, due to the differning idiologies. But also because staff are burdened due to job responsibilities. "Doing more with less" is the culture of most industries, providing little to no time for consulting and sharing information. Unfortunately, this doesn't benefit anyone and generally costs more in the end.
One of Shiawassee CMH's values is "teamwork." This includes continuity of care among the service spectrum. Teamwork is ensuring that consumers aren't tangled in the confusing web of duplication, coordinating and collaborating with other service providers, and advocating for what the consumers should expect.
During the intake and assessment process, it is important that our staff obtain information regarding other services being provided to consumers. We are then able to sort out what, if any, duplication of services may be occuring. During this process, it may be important for our staff to collaborate with those from other agencies. Or during the treatment process, this may also occur.
Most recently, Shiawassee CMH, Shiawassee Regional Education School District (SRESD), DHS, and Public Health have partnered with the goal being to reduce duplication of services for children ages 0-5. It is our intent to improve continuity of care by increasing coordination and collaboration among early childhood providers. Therefore, these staff have co-located in the same building hoping to dismantle silos among agnecies.
When multiple agencies are serving the same family, clarifying treatment boudaries, goals, and developing a unified approach is best-practice. Anything less is not providing appropriate care.
Peer Support Services
Peer Support services provide individuals with opportunities to support, mentor and assist consumers with a mental illness to achieve community inclusion, participation, independence, recovery, resiliency and/or productivity. Peer are individuals who have a unique background and skill level from their experience in utilizing services and supports to achieve their personal goals of community membership, independence and productivity. Individuals receiving peer support services must participate in choosing the peer who will be providing the service. Services may be provided on an individual basis or in a group format and must be tied into the consumers identified outcome in their Person Centered Plan.
Peer Support Services include an array of services that include vocational assistance to support consumers seeking education, training and/or employment activities; housing assistance to find and maintain independent living, move to less restrictive living situations, and applying for housing vouchers; person centered planning; self determination; sharing recovery stories, accessing entitlements, developing wellness plans, developing advance directives, pursing alternatives to guardianship, supporting consumers in crisis; and developing, implementing and providing ongoing guidance for advocacy and support groups.
The Peer Support Program is intended to serve adult consumers of SCCMHA who have a diagnosis of a serious mental illness or a co-occurring disorder of a mental Illness and a substance use disorder who are receiving Supports Coordination or Case Management, Assertive Community Treatment or Outpatient Services.
Consumer-provided services arose from a number of problems with traditional mental health services including:
- Consumers falling through the cracks,
- Lack of opportunity for consumers to develop competencies, autonomy, involvement and relatedness with others,
- Need for supports for rehabilitation, and
- Professional lack of knowledge, theory and techniques that lead to Recovery.
Peer Supports evolved from the consumerism movement that includes self-help, mutual support and consumers as providers. At the same time, there has been a shift from the medical model to the recovery model in the delivery of mental health services, a move that parallels the system transformations efforts are associated with integrating mental health, substance abuse and physical health care interventions, person-centered planning, and the emphasis on self determination as basic value in service delivery. Many direct services now provided by professional staff, can be more effectively provided by peers.
Peer Supports, one of a number of peer delivered services, benefit consumers who receive the service, consumers who provide the services, and the agency. For consumers who receive peer support services, benefits include:
Peer Supports, one of a number of peer delivered services, benefit consumers who receive the service, consumers who provide the services, and the agency. For consumers who receive peer support services, benefits include:
- Increased social supports and nurturance,
- Increased opportunities for decision making, choice and increased independence,
- Increased sense of hope,
- Increased sense of empowerment, and
- Opportunities for development of a network based on friendships.
Ensuring That Our Veterans Are Provided Mental Health Services
There seems to be a misconception that community mental health doesn't offer many services to our veterans. Contrary to this belief, Shiawassee County Community Mental Health Authority has served veterans for many, many years.
There are many veterans that have medical benefits allowing them mental health treatment through the Veterans Administration. However, the service array is limited. That said, community mental health does try to link and coordinate with the Veterans Administration for those services that are covered and can be obtained through that system. Generally, this is psychiatry, outpatient therapy, an limited case management.
As you may recall from earlier Blog entries, Shiawassee County Community Mental Health provides services to those diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness. This applies to all, whether or not the consumer has no insurance, has Medicaid, private insurance, or happens to be a veteran. Services provided mostly include community-based, e.g. Assertive Community Treatment, Targeted Case Management, Home-Based, etc. These community-based services are not covered by private insurance companies, nor the VA, and therefore wouldn't be available unless provided by the public mental health system.
That being said, there are many veterans served by Shiawassee CMH. Depending on the symptoms, functioning status, resources, and supports, veterans are enrolled in our community-based services and many times see our psychiatrist. Emergency mental health, outreach and education, and linking and collaborating with the VA are also available.
It is important that our veterans obtain the needed assistance. SCCMHA is dedicated to ensuring that this is done...either directly or through the VA. In both cases, SCCMHA staff are willing to help and make sure that the appropriate services are in place.
There are many veterans that have medical benefits allowing them mental health treatment through the Veterans Administration. However, the service array is limited. That said, community mental health does try to link and coordinate with the Veterans Administration for those services that are covered and can be obtained through that system. Generally, this is psychiatry, outpatient therapy, an limited case management.
As you may recall from earlier Blog entries, Shiawassee County Community Mental Health provides services to those diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness. This applies to all, whether or not the consumer has no insurance, has Medicaid, private insurance, or happens to be a veteran. Services provided mostly include community-based, e.g. Assertive Community Treatment, Targeted Case Management, Home-Based, etc. These community-based services are not covered by private insurance companies, nor the VA, and therefore wouldn't be available unless provided by the public mental health system.
That being said, there are many veterans served by Shiawassee CMH. Depending on the symptoms, functioning status, resources, and supports, veterans are enrolled in our community-based services and many times see our psychiatrist. Emergency mental health, outreach and education, and linking and collaborating with the VA are also available.
It is important that our veterans obtain the needed assistance. SCCMHA is dedicated to ensuring that this is done...either directly or through the VA. In both cases, SCCMHA staff are willing to help and make sure that the appropriate services are in place.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)