Requesting Services

Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital Service

Vocational & Employment Services
Psychiatric Rehabilitation

     Clubhouse programs

Residential Services
Community Residential Rehabilitation (CRR)

     Supported Living Services

Special Mental Health Support Services

     Forensic Support

     Support for Deaf / Hard-of-Hearing

     Compeer

Case Management

Self Help & Advocacy

     Community Crossroads Drop-in Center

     Community Support Program (CSP)

     Other Mental Health Resources

Continuous Quality Improvement

     Consumer Satisfaction Team

Solving Problems & Making Complaints

Publications

Training for Consumers and Families

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Introduction

The Office of Mental Health funds area agencies to serve people who need mental health services and who do not have private health insurance coverage, do not qualify for Medical Assistance (Medicaid), or do not have other sources of funding to cover mental health treatment or support services.  The County Program also pays for selected special services which typical private insurance does not cover.  Priority is given to persons with serious mental illnesses. 

County services charge fees which are adjusted for income.  Persons may be asked to share the cost of their treatment or may be required to contribute to room and board costs of residential programs.  The County Program also has oversight responsibility for the Medicaid (HealthChoices) provider network.

Services are provided by a variety of agencies throughout the County.  Many agencies have staff to serve those who speak Spanish or who are deaf or hard of hearing.  Providers may not discriminate on the basis of race, age, gender, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability/handicap, marital, or financial status.

Persons with a Medical Assistance card should contact

Community Care Behavioral Health 
at 1-866 622-4228 (en Espanol - 1-866 229-3187)
or
TTY/TDD 1-877 877-3580

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There are several ways to enroll in the Chester County mental health service system.  Individuals may contact the assessment and registration agency (Community Mental Health Agency) listed here to get information and to determine eligibility for services.  Doctors, hospitals, mental health professionals, or social service agencies may also refer persons to a Community Mental Health Agency.   Parents, physicians, school counselors, or school Student Assistance Program staff may refer children and adolescents who seem to need mental health services.  

Individuals with a Medical Assistance card should contact
Community Care Behavioral Health 
at 1-866 622-4228 (en Espanol - 1-866 229-3187)
or
TTY/TDD 1-877 877-3580

Community Mental Health Agencys

Fellowship Health Resources, Inc

300 Schuylkill Road

Phoenixville, PA 19460

{Phone Picture - Call}  610-933-9101

Human Services, Inc.

  520 East Lancaster Avenue
Downingtown, PA 19335

{Phone Picture - Call}  610-873-1010
              1-888-873-1001
OR

39 North Third Street
Oxford, PA 19363

How to Get Services for Children and Adolescents

Children and teenagers with mental illness, emotional disturbance, behavior problems, or serious social skill problems need mental health services designed for their age.  These services help the young person remain at home with family in the community.  Services are planned to be the least intensive and least intrusive options which also meet the person's needs.  Many families have private insurance to cover some mental health treatment.  The County Program provides some funding for families with no private or public insurance;  however,  most children with serious mental illness or emotional disturbance qualify for Medical Assistance, regardless of their income.  

Available Services for Children, Adolescents, & Their Families

Mental health services for children and adolescents include case management, outpatient therapy, partial hospitalization, family-based therapy, Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Service (BHRS) or Wraparound, residential treatment, and inpatient hospitalization.  Intensive Case Management or Resource Coordination may also occur with some of these services.

Outpatient Therapy:  The child or adolescent meets with a clinician in an office to make a care plan for an agreed length of time.  The child/adolescent and clinician meet regularly to discuss problems, explore issues, and develop methods for coping. Caregivers may also participate.

Partial Hospital Treatment:  The child/adolescent attends an intensive therapeutic program and school during the day.  A psychiatrist supervises a team of mental health professionals who provide counseling, group therapy, and medication management. 

Family-based Therapy:  A team of two clinicians visit the child/adolescent's home to work with the individual and family.  The clinicians work to strengthen communication and mutual support within the family.  They help the family to access resources in their community.  Emergency service is on-call 24 hours per day.

Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Service (BHRS) or Wraparound:  A clinician provides therapy in the home, school, or wherever the child/adolescent normally goes during the day.  Also known as "wraparound", this service may be more or less intensive depending on the need.  This service is designed to help children/adolescents function in their home and community in order to avoid more restrictive settings.  Typical  BHRS services are Mobile Therapy, Therapeutic Staff Support (TSS), and Behavior Specialists.

Residential Treatment:  The child/adolescent lives in a special therapeutic residence for intensive treatment and support.  Clinicians and staff assist the child/adolescent to achieve behavioral goals in order to return to their home and community as soon as possible.

Inpatient Hospital Treatment:  The child/adolescent is admitted to a psychiatric hospital unit for treatment.  Generally this treatment choice is appropriate when a child/ adolescent is in crisis, is a danger to himself or others, or when medication must be closely supervised.

Requesting Services For a Child, Adolescent, or Family

Requests for mental health services may be made to any community mental health agency or to Community Care Behavioral Health (for persons eligible for Medical Assistance). 

All young persons referred for Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Service or "Wraparound" must be carefully assessed to determine that the need is medical and to identify the appropriate therapeutic supports.  Requests for BHRS are made to one of Chester County's full service Mental Health agencies.

Over the phone, the Intake Specialist records basic information about the child.  The Intake Specialist schedules an appointment with the child and family to review the child's strengths and needs, and to obtain additional information as needed.  Once medical, mental health, financial, and other pertinent information is assembled, the Intake Specialist presents the case to a clinical team. The clinical team considers all the information on the child and decides what level of care is needed. If the child has a medical need for services, the clinical team identifies appropriate treatment and supports.  At all times, the clinical team focuses on the least intensive and least intrusive treatment choices.

The Intake Specialist then refers the family to a choice of programs or providers.

When the child  is on Medical Assistance (HealthChoices), the Intake Specialist also informs Community Care Behavioral Health. Community Care Behavioral Health Care Managers then help the family with provider choices.  Some families may also qualify for county funding support.

Once services start, each service provider follows the progress of the child in its care and regularly reviews the strengths, needs, and appropriateness of services for the child.

If the assessment does not show a medical need for mental health services, the community mental health agency helps the family identify other resources or supports for the child.

To inquire about mental health services for a child or adolescent, contact one one of the following :

Human Services, Inc. 

520 East Lancaster Avenue
Downingtown, PA 1933

{Phone Picture - Call}   610-430-6141
OR
39 North Third Street
Oxford, PA 19363

{Phone Picture - Call}  610-869-8557

1 Mennonite Church Road

Spring City, PA 19475

{Phone Picture - Call}  610-948-6490

CASSP Principles

The Child and Adolescent Service System (CASSP) principles help to guide the development and provision of services to children and adolescents.

Child-centered:  Services are planned to meet the individual needs of the child, rather than to fit the child into an existing service.  Services consider the child's family and community contexts, are developmentally appropriate and child-specific, and also build on the strengths of the child and family to meet the mental health, social and physical needs of the child.  As the child matures, services are planned to promote successful transition from adolescence to adult living.

Family-focused:  Services recognize that the family is the primary support system for the child.  The family participates as full partner in all stages of the decision-making and treatment-planning process, including implementation, monitoring and evaluation.  A family may include biological, adoptive and foster parents, siblings, grandparents and other relatives, and other adults who are committed to the child.  The development of mental health policy at state and local levels includes family representation.

Community-based:  Whenever possible, services are delivered in the child, adolescent or young adult's home community, drawing on formal and informal resources to promote the child's successful participation and integration in the community.  Community resources include not only mental health professionals and provider agencies, but also social, religious and cultural organizations and other natural community support networks.

Multi-system:  Services are planed in collaboration with all the child-serving systems involved with the child, adolescent or young adult's life.  Representatives from all these systems and the family collaborate to define individual goals, develop a service plan, develop the necessary resources to implement the plan, provide appropriate support to the individual and family, provide continuity of care including transition to adult living when appropriate, and evaluate progress.

Culturally competent:  Culture determines our worldview and provides a general design for living and patterns for interpreting reality that are reflected in our behavior.  Therefore, services that are culturally competent are provided by individuals who have the skills to recognize and respect the behavior, ideas, attitudes, values, beliefs, customs, language, rituals, ceremonies and practices characteristic of a particular group of people.

Least restrictive/least intrusive:  Services take place in settings that are the most appropriate and natural for the child, adolescent, or young adult and family, and are the least restrictive and intrusive available to meet the needs of the individual and family.

Case Management Services

Case Managers ensures that services are coordinated and consistent for adults who have serious mental illness, or for children and adolescents who have serious emotional disturbance.  The Case Manager works with the individual and with other mental health professionals to decide what services are needed, to develop a person-centered plan of care, and to help the individual get needed services and supports.  Case Managers link individuals with supports they may need for finances, transportation, housing, and other areas to aid their mental health recovery.

There are three types of mental health case management:

1.  Administrative Case Manager assess the needs of the person, process the initial service application, determine eligibility for financial assistance, and make referrals to services.  Administrative Case Management is available at the following agencies:

Contact the agency located near you.

Fellowship Health Resources, Inc.

 (Adults Only)

300 Schuylkill Road 
Phoenixville, PA 19460

{Phone Picture - Call}  610-933-9101

2.  Resource Coordination Supports Coordinators provide moderately intense service oversight and monitoring for adults who have a serious mental illness, and for children and adolescents who have serious emotional disturbance.  Resource Coordinators focus on eliminating barriers and linking persons to services and supports to guide them toward increasing independence.  Resource Coordinators may provide intensive support for a short time, or moderate support for longer time periods.

Resource Coordination (RC) is available through:

    Fellowship Health Resources, Inc.

 (Adults Only)

300 Schuylkill Road 
Phoenixville, PA 19460

{Phone Picture - Call}  610-933-9101

   Child Guidance Resource Centers

3.  Intensive Case Managers work very closely with small caseloads of adults who have a serious mental illness or children and adolescents who have a serious emotional disturbance.  Intensive Case Management (ICM) is for persons who have a chronic mental illness and multiple needs requiring frequent staff contact.  Intensive Case Managers are part of a staff team available around the clock to help obtain needed services and supports.

Intensive Case Management is available through:   

    Fellowship Health Resources, Inc.

 (Adults Only)

300 Schuylkill Road 
Phoenixville, PA 19460

{Phone Picture - Call}  610-933-9101

Self Help and Advocacy

Community Crossroads Drop-In Center  is staffed by and for mental health consumers who provide peer support and advocacy.  The Center is open every day except Monday and has evening hours as well.  People who use the center are encouraged to become members so they can participate in planning activities and projects.  Scheduled group activities include recreational events, the Friday Night Café, "Double Trouble" meetings, trips, parties, games and discussion/support groups.

The Drop-in Center hosts guest speakers on occasion, offers computer training to members, and maintains an extensive library of books and resource materials.

Community Crossroads Drop-in Center

529 East Gay Street

West Chester, PA 

(Gay Street Plaza, rear row)

{Phone Picture - Call}  610-429-1702

http://members.tripod.com/~xroads97

xroads97@hotmail.com

Community Support Program (CSP)

The Community Support Program (CSP) is a coalition of mental health consumers, family members, professionals, and community members working together to help adults with serious mental illnesses live successfully in the community.

CSP meetings are held monthly at various locations throughout the county.  Meetings are open to the public and input and ideas are welcome.  The CSP works to:

• promote services based on the needs of the individual,

• play a major role in county planning, quality assurance, and program evaluation,

• serve as consultant/advisors to the County Office,

• focus on advocacy about policy, procedures, and funding,

• promote community awareness through education and outreach,

• address issues regarding housing, confidentiality, human rights, employment, education, and legislation,

• interact with regional and state committees working on similar issues.

Community Support Program (CSP)

c/o Community Crossroads Drop-in Center

529 East Gay Street

West Chester, PA 19380

{Phone Picture - Call} 610-429-1702

FAX 610-429-1703

Other Mental Health Resources 

  {Phone Picture - Call}  703-524-7600

Help Line:  1-800-950-6264

www.NAMI.ORG

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 Alliance for the Mentally Ill:  Chester County

{Phone Picture - Call} 610-430-0177
chescoami@hotmail.com
http://members.tripod.com/~chescoami

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National Depressive & Manic Depressive Association (D/MDA)

{Phone Picture - Call} 610-429-1702    or    1-800-826-3632

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Mental Health Association of Southeastern PA

{Phone Picture - Call}   215-751-1800
www.mhasp.org

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Project Share

{Phone Picture - Call}  215-751-1800, ext. 236

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Recovery, Inc.

{Phone Picture - Call}  215-332-0722

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Pennsylvania Protection & Advocacy

{Phone Picture - Call}   717-326-8110 

             or

               1-800-692-7443

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   Pennsylvania Mental Health Consumer's Association

{Phone Picture - Call}  1-800-88PMHCA (877-6422)

or

717-323-9406

 Publications