| This page contains information on: Definitions;
Eligibility; East 2nd Mental
Health Clinic; Psychiatric Emergency Services;
E-Merge Program; External
Providers; Housing; Residential
Programs; Supported Employment; Supported
Housing; Consumer Benefits Office; ANEW
Program; Assertive Community Outreach (ACT) Team;
Deaf Services; Citizens' Planning Advisory Committee.
What is mental illness?
Mental illness is a medical disease that may disrupt a person’s
thinking, feelings, moods, and ability to relate to others. These
symptoms can be controlled through strategies that may include rehabilitative
services and medical treatments.
Who is eligible to receive services?
The Austin Travis County MHMR Center's mental health programs serve
people who have a diagnosis of severe and persistent mental illness.
This priority population is served through guidelines set forth
by the state of Texas.
If a person meets the priority population as defined by the illness
listed below, the level of services received will depend upon the
individual’s level of need.
- Schizophrenia
- Major Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Other severely disabling mental disorders that require crisis
resolution and ongoing and long-term support and treatment, and
a 50 or below on Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF).
What does Austin Travis County MHMR have to offer?
Austin Travis County MHMR manages a network of services for people
with mental illness.
East 2nd Mental Health Clinic
The East 2nd Mental Health Clinic provides individual counseling,
office based and community based Service Coordination, community
based individual skills training, and psychiatric outpatient services
for adult Travis County residents with severe and persistent mental
illness.
Psychiatric Emergency Services
Psychiatric Emergency Services are for adults and children experiencing
a psychiatric crisis and in need of emergency screening and evaluation
services.
Also provided are crisis intervention, individual crisis counseling,
individual and family crisis rehabilitative skills training, screening
and referrals to appropriate community resources and/or services.
These services are available twenty-four hour a day, 365 days
a year.
External Providers
The Adult Mental Health Network contracts with external providers
who provide counseling services to our consumers. Services provided
range from individual counseling, family counseling, and group counseling
services.
Mary
Lee Foundation: A private, non-profit agency contracted
with the Adult Mental Health Network to provide Community Support
Services that are provided either in a one-on-one or small group
modality. These services can be provided on site or in the community,
including the adult consumer’s home.
E-Merge Program
(Click for more info)
ATCMHMR and the City of Austin’s Primary Health Department
– Community Health Clinics have partnered to create an integrated
health care model. Both general medical services and behavioral
health services will be provided within the designated community
health clinic. Behavioral health services offered include Individual
Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Group Therapy, and Mental Health
Education. Referrals to this program can come from your Community
Health Clinic doctor or by asking for an appointment at the front
desk of the Community Health Clinic that you use.
Housing
Housing Services provides affordable housing for disabled individuals
in the Austin - Travis County area. Eligibility is determined through
caseworker referrals and a housing screening process. Various grants
and subsidies may provide rental assistance for individuals who
meet the criteria.
Since 1988, the Housing Division at ATCMHMR has expanded to 20
apartments sites, 5 HUD complexes, 4 co-ops and has also begun a
roommate program. The New Beginnings Pantry started in 1999, is
completely funded through donations to provide basic items (apartment
start up kit) to individuals moving into their new homes. The Pantry
is manned by Housing staff and volunteers.
Due to the disabilities and extremely low income of our population,
many consumers may face a housing crisis in the future, leading
to relapse and re-hospitalization. Housing Services provides the
basic needs of life, allowing individuals to achieve self-sufficiency
and help eliminate homelessness in the community. Click
here for information on donating to the New Beginnings Housing Pantry.
Supported Housing
Supported Housing provides living skills training and service
coordination to individuals needing support to obtain or maintain
independent housing.
Residential Programs
The Inn: The Inn is a psychiatric facility
for short-term, twenty-four hour crisis stabilization for people
who are unable to remain or maintain their existing living arrangements.
The Inn provides medication administration and stabilization,
short-term therapy, screening and evaluations, personal social
adjustment groups, including medication groups and other skills-building
groups.
Alameda House: Alameda House is a 90-day transitional
living program. The goals of the program are to assist adult mentally
ill individuals with developing skills to live independently in
the community. Alameda House also serves mentally ill adults who
have substance abuse issues and are on probation. Caseworkers
develop a treatment plan together with the consumer to address
areas where deficits have been identified. Consumers work on such
issues as anger management, relapse prevention, medication management,
leisure skills, budgeting skills, and stress management. The goal
is to apply skills learned to transfer to living independently
in the community thus increasing community tenure.
Supported Employment
Employment Services are provided by specialists, which include rehabilitative
skills training, short-term vocational-oriented therapy with client
input and choices regarding service goals. Services also include
interviewing practice, resume development, training on networking,
self-advocacy, anger control, and successful communication in order
to acquire and maintain successful employment.
Consumer Benefits Office (CBO)
The Consumer Benefits Office helps individuals apply for and monitor
Social Security benefits. CBO services include screening to determine
eligibility, assessment of consumer needs and resources, and providing
assistance in filling out applications.
Consumers also receive support in monitoring the applications and
consultation regarding Social Security related topics, such as payee
issues or work restrictions.
ANEW
ANEW provides intensive services for consumers who are on parole
or probation and meet the priority population standard for mental
health and/or mental retardation services.
ANEW provides Continuity of Care services to link consumers from
correctional facilities to ATCMHMR. The program also provides psychiatric
medication management services, service coordination to facilitate
access to community resources, individual and group rehabilitative
skills training, plus individual and group counseling.
Court liaison services are available to assist consumers incarcerated
in the county jail in receiving treatment alternatives other than
further incarceration.
Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACT)
provides intensive support services for individuals with severe
and persistent mental illness in an effort to help each person live
safely in the community. Using a team approach, ACT provides psychiatric
and rehabilitative services including: medication management, housing
support, nursing services, community living skills training, vocational
services, group and individual counseling, and 24 hour crisis availability.
ACT Team members also work with individuals who are dually diagnosed
with mental illness and substance abuse. Most services are provided
in the consumer’s living environment or in the community.
Deaf Services
Deaf services provide skills training to hearing impaired mentally
ill adults. The goal is to assist clients with developing skills
needed to maintain independent living in the community while managing
the symptoms of their mental illness.
Citizens' Planning Advisory Committee
The Citizens Planning Advisory Committee serves as a resource
to the Board of Trustees and to ATCMHMR staff. Citizens' Planning Advisory Committee members make recommendations to the Board
on the local service delivery system in the following areas: planning;
needs and priorities for the service area and the Center; budget;
contract issues; and implementation of plans and contracts.
The primary functions of the Citizens' Planning Advisory
Committees are the following:
- Participate in local planning and the development of the Center’s
Strategic Plan.
- Identify needs and priorities for the service area and the
Center.
- Make recommendations regarding budget priorities.
- Make recommendations regarding implementation of the Center’s
Strategic Plan and contracts.
- Review programs and contracts on an ongoing basis and make
recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding performance
and quality improvement issues.
The Citizens' Planning Advisory Committee meets on the 2nd
Thursday of each month from noon-2pm in Training Room 1 of 1700
South Lamar Blvd. For additional information please click
the link to send an email or call (512) 445-7739.
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