Mental Health Needs: Meeting the Challenge Marsha G. Ansel, LCSW-C Howard County Mental Health Authority

Licensed social worker, LCSW-C provides:  consultation  education  technical assistance  promoting specialized services in aging and mental health to meet the needs of the geriatric population

Consultation/Transition:  community discharge from state psychiatric hospitals  comprehensive individualized plan evaluation, aftercare assessment, and planning services  identification of community resources, assistance with linkage and access to service

Consultation/Transition regarding community settings and services:  nursing homes, assisted living, adult medical day care, hospitals  Residential Rehabilitation Programs and Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs (mental health)  county, state, and private agencies/providers and the public

Coordination and Collaboration to promote aging and mental health services:  planning and development of services  interagency coordination for individual planning as well as service delivery systems  networking, partnerships, and advocacy with local, state, and private agencies, statewide and national organizations

Training and Education regarding mental health and aging for direct caregivers, aging providers, mental health providers, other public agency staff and the community at large. Marsha G. Ansel, LCSW-C Howard County Mental Health Authority

A professional staff position in the Health & Wealth Division of Howard County Office on Aging, who:  administers the SPRING (Senior Peer Resources: Individuals, Networks & Groups) Program, a preventive mental health peer support program;  develops resources and oversee programs designed to meet the mental health needs of the senior population in Howard County;

 counsels and/or identifies the appropriate referral for individuals in distress/crisis;  networks with community mental health providers and collaborates on related older adult projects;  provides mental health trainings in the community;

 serves as an advocate for older adult mental health issues in the community and at the interagency level;  serves as an ex-officio Board member of the Howard County Mental Health Authority, the local core service agency. Karen Hull Howard County Office on Aging

A Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program:  services in an individual’s home  medication and symptom management  budgeting  socialization  crisis intervention  case management services  limited transportation

The program’s basic requirements are:  psychiatric diagnosis must meet the Maryland’s Public Mental Health System, Priority Population, which is the cause of significant psychological, personal care, and social impairment  must have Medical Assistance and live in Howard County (program also functions in Baltimore City.)

(Basic requirements - continued)  must have Medical Assistance, and must live in Howard County. They have a program in Baltimore City as well. Vanessa Conaway , ext 2322 cell:

 provides services to adults with serious mental disorders  designed to meet the needs of individuals who are unable or unwilling to engage in traditional, facility-based outpatient psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation services.

Mobile Treatment is provided as a comprehensive service. The team provides :  nursing services  psychiatric treatment  therapy, case management  resource coordination  advocacy  and many other services.

Admission criteria:  The consumer has a Public Mental Health System specialty mental health DSM-IV diagnosis included in the Priority Population, which is the cause of significant psychological, personal care, and social impairment.  Inability to engage in traditional outpatient treatment

(Admission criteria – continued)  Inability to form therapeutic relationships on an ongoing basis as evidenced by: frequent use of Emergency Room for psychiatric reasons, psychiatric hospitalizations, arrest for reasons associated with the individual’s mental illness.

The goals of the program include:  Preventing or reducing incidents or hospitalization, incarceration, and homelessness.  Improving the functioning, quality of life, and community integration of the individuals served. Kristin Ucciardo, Manager x 7728

 MCT consists of 2 licensed mental health professionals (LCSW-C or LCPC) and we work in collaboration with Howard County Police.  MCT goes to an individual's home or anywhere else in the community to assist an individual and/or family in crisis.

 Crisis can include psychiatric, behavioral, family, trauma (sudden death), community disaster (fire, etc).  The objective is to intervene in the crisis and alleviate stress and trauma in the least restrictive way.

 MCT also provides resources and referrals  follows up with clients to assess if they were able to connect to resources, follow safety plan  assesses if further support/resources are needed.

 The police call MCT but anyone in the community can request MCT response.  MCT always responds with police.  MCT does not typically respond to standard domestics between husband and wife.

 Hours of operation are M -F 9am to 11pm and Sat and Sun 12 pm to 11pm. Mobile Crisis Team Call Grassroots and request MCT

Group Practices :  Clinic appointments  Multidisciplinary staff  In-home visits in designated settings Private Practitioners :  In home therapy  Office appointments for therapy and medication management

Marsha G. Ansel, LCSW-C Howard County Mental Health Authority Karen Hull Howard County Office on Aging Mobile Crisis Team Call Grassroots and request MCT Kristin Ucciardo, Manager Way Station, Sheppard Pratt - Mobile Treatment x 7728 Vanessa Conaway , ext 2322 cell: CONTACTS