Community Mental Health

By: Mae Veidlinger, MSW Intern and Juno Ottathengil, LLMSW

Introduction

Community Mental Health (CMH) provides mental health, psychiatric, and support services to adults, children, and neurodiverse individuals in need. In Michigan, there are 46 CMH programs across the state. Depending on the location, each program serves individuals in one to six counties.

Services

The services provided by CMH can vary among the 46 programs in Michigan. Listed below are the services offered by the Washtenaw County CMH program:

Services for Adults and Children
- Assessment services
  - Psychological
  - Psychiatric
  - Medication
  - Health
  - Primary care screening and monitoring
- Treatment planning and case management services
- Crisis services
  - Crisis call line
  - Crisis interventions
  - Partial hospitalization
  - Psychiatric hospital admissions
- Outpatient therapy and services
  - Community living
  - Dietary supports
  - Individual and group therapy
  - Medication management
  - Health services
  - Occupational therapy
  - Peer support
  - Respite care
- Jail diversion and reentry services

Services for Adults with Mental Health and Substance Use Concerns
- Assertive community treatment
- Crisis residential treatment
- Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion and Deflection (LEADD)
- Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
- Specialized residential treatment
- Substance use assessment
- Supported employment

Services for Adults with Intellectual and Development Disabilities
- Crisis residential treatment
- Nursing facility assessments
- Residential services
- Substance use assessments
- Specialized residential treatment
- Supported employment

Additional Services for Children and Families
- Family therapy
- Home-based services
- School support
- Wraparound services

Telehealth
- Start by calling the Washtenaw County CMH 24/7 access line for an assessment.
- After the assessment, you will receive an email confirmation of your appointment if you are deemed eligible.

Crisis Services
- For immediate crisis support (urgent needs that could result in harm if not addressed within 48 hours), call (734) 544-3050 at any time of the day or night.

Process

CMH prioritizes services for individuals who are receiving Medicare and Medicaid benefits for general services. However, in urgent and emergency needs, CMH prioritizes those needs regardless of insurance coverage or payment method. After you contact CMH, a consultation will be scheduled within 14 days. Once the consultation occurs, CMH will determine if you are an appropriate fit for their services. If you are eligible for services, sessions will typically last 60-90 minutes. If CMH determines that their services are not the best for your needs, then they can provide referrals to other community resources that may be more appropriate.

Cost of Services

CMH is committed to ensuring that cost is not a barrier to receiving services. Individuals may provide income documentation to help determine an appropriate cost of services based on their family’s financial needs. If your financial circumstances change at any point during treatment, then you may request a review of your payment arrangement.

References

Community mental health. Washtenaw County, MI – Official Website. (n.d.). https://www.washtenaw.org/839/Community-Mental-Health

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