Older Adult Services (OAS) provides treatment, care coordination, and support services for adults age 60 and older with a diagnosed serious mental illness. While participants must be Medi-Cal eligible residents of San Joaquin County who are willing to receive services, efforts are also made to engage those who are resistant or hesitant to receiving support,
Psychiatric services include assessment, treatment, case planning, medication evaluation, medication monitoring, and other support services. Treatment and therapeutic services are provided by Psychiatrists, Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC), Psychiatric Nurses and Psychiatric Technicians, unlicensed interns, Mental Health Specialists, and Mental Health Outreach Workers. A mental health pharmacy is available to BHS members Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Individualized plans of service are offered to members, and their family as appropriate, where they participate in developing individualized plans of service based on their strengths, needs, concerns, and recovery goals.
Services are provided in a variety of languages through bilingual staff and interpreters, and through a language line. Families are welcome and included in service planning at the request of program participants.
Targeted case management is provided for eligible consumers and peer support groups are offered on a variety of helpful and interesting subjects.
Recovery goals include decreasing symptoms related to a member’s illness and expanding their coping mechanism options. The overarching goal is for members to remain independent so that they may achieve individual goals for health, wellness, and recovery. This includes improving their health and wellbeing, maintaining stable family and social relationships, and engaging in meaningful activities that keep them safe from harm.
Gaining Older Adult Life Skills (GOALS) provides outreach to underserved older adults age 60 and older who in addition to having a mental illness may also have an increased need for physical medical care associated with aging. GOALS is part of a Full Service Partnership (FSP) program that serves the elderly.
FSPs offer intensive case management and outpatient services to improve member stability, self-sufficiency, safety and recovery, and to maintain members in outpatient treatment. They serve adults 18 years and older who are Medi-Cal eligible and have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness that meets medical necessity. Members may be decompensating, gravely disabled, or unable to care for themselves and meet one of the following criteria: homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, have a history of criminal justice involvement, have frequent emergency room or crisis contacts, or be at risk of institutionalization. They may also have a history of reluctance to participate in traditional mental health treatment, have had multiple living situations, or a history of involvement in the criminal justice system.
The Innovative Support Program in Recovery and Engagement (InSPIRE) program provides specialty mental health services to adults with severe mental illness who are hesitant or resistant to engaging in mental health treatment. InSPIRE has a small member to staff ratio and is part of a Full Service Partnership (FSP).
FSPs offer intensive case management and outpatient services to improve member stability, self-sufficiency, safety and recovery, and to maintain members in outpatient treatment.
FSPs serve adults age 18-59 years and older who are Medi-Cal eligible and have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness that meets medical necessity. Members may be decompensating, gravely disabled, or unable to care for themselves and meet one of the following criteria: homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, have a history of criminal justice involvement, have frequent emergency room or crisis contacts, or be at risk of institutionalization. They may also have a history of reluctance to participate in traditional mental health treatment, have had multiple living situations, or a history of involvement in the criminal justice system.
Program goals are to engage Members on voluntary treatment options to improve their stability and self-sufficiency through individualized safety plans for themself and their family as needed. Additional goals are to move members into safe, stable environments and for them to maintain outpatient treatment. A key element of InSPIRE is Enthusiastic Engagement, which includes daily contact to build rapport and provide a framework for voluntary mental health treatment. Enthusiastic Engagement may include providing essential needs such as food, clothing and shelter, providing financial incentives and transportation, and linking the individual to community resources.
Referrals to the program are made through community based organizations, family members, and BHS staff. Once an individual is referred, a member of the BHS Adult Services outpatient management team reviews their recommendation for approval.
The Intensive Case Engagement (ICE) program assists members with transportation to their behavioral health appointments, with enrollment in public benefit programs and in obtaining essential items such as food, clothing, and shelter. It also provides linkages to community resources. ICE serves Medi-Cal eligible adults ages 18-59 who have a mental health diagnosis that meets medical necessity.
Primary ICE program objectives are treatment compliance and housing security. Secondary objectives are member stability so they can reach a lower level of care.
ICE is part of a Full Service Partnership (FSP). FSPs offer intensive case management and outpatient services to improve member stability, self-sufficiency, safety and recovery, and to maintain members in outpatient treatment. Members may be decompensating, gravely disabled, or unable to care for themselves and meet one of the following criteria: homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, have a history of criminal justice involvement, have frequent emergency room or crisis contacts, or be at risk of institutionalization. They may also have a history of reluctance to participate in traditional mental health treatment, have had multiple living situations, or a history of involvement in the criminal justice system.