Duplication of Services

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.