There are various levels of case management services available to consumers actively registered in the County Mental Health system. Referrals for these services can be made regardless of the presence or lack of insurance. The type of case management depends on various factors such as diagnosis, mental health treatment history and need for services.
Types of case management:
The Base Service Unit oversees funding for Mental Health services offered in the community. These services may include: Outpatient, Specialized Case Managers, Community Residential Rehabilitation placements, housing, vocational and rehabilitation services. The BSU also monitors outpatient Mental Health commitments and State Mental Hospital Placements.
BCM services are services provided in the person’s home, residence and/or community setting. They are directed toward the rehabilitation of behavioral/social/emotional deficits and/or amelioration of symptoms for adults with serious and persistent mental illness. Services are designed to provide assistance in accessing needed resources and services in order to achieve stability in the community.
ACT is a consumer-centered, recovery-oriented mental health service delivery model that facilitates community living, psychosocial rehabilitation, and recovery for persons with the most serious and persistent mental illnesses, sometimes accompanied by a coexisting disorder or condition who have been unsuccessful in more traditional mental health services. ACT services are delivered by a group of multidisciplinary mental health staff who work as a team and provide the majority of the treatment, rehabilitation, and support services the consumers need to achieve their goals. The approach with each consumer emphasizes relationship building and active involvement in assisting individuals with serious mental illness to make improvements in functioning, to better manage systems, to achieve individual goals and to maintain optimism. The ACT team is mobile and delivers services in community locations.
SPORE is a partnership between the Office of Lehigh County Mental Health and the Juvenile Probation Department that provides a mental health caseworker and a probation officer to jointly and intensively supervise consumers who experience severe MH/MR problems. This team works closely with community based mental health services to assist the consumer in developing emotional stability.
PRS services can be in a facility or in the community/consumer’s home. These services aim at providing recovery-based skill development to improve overall quality of life. The skills building may include: life skills (personal care, relationships, symptom management, support, linkage, and healthy choices.),education (symptoms, medications, communication skills, stress/anger management, GED, drivers’ license, etc.), vocational training/volunteering (learn, practice and develop employment skills.), socialization (utilizing the community).
For additional information, contact the Department of Human Services Information and Referral Unit at 610-782-3200 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.