Mental Health
Mental
Health Director: Kayla Wright
CASSP
Coordinator: Christy Lineman
Forensic
Reentry Specialist: Pat Harris
Blended
Case Manager: Patty Allen
Potter County Department of Mental Health has a committed team that is dedicated to assisting individuals of all ages in our community presenting with mental health needs.
These duties include:
· Base Service Unit (BSU)
· Blended Case Management (BCM)
·
Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP)
· Student Assistance Program (SAP)
·
Forensic Re-entry Services
· Potter County Re-entry Coalition
· Local Housing Options Team (LHOT)
· Transformational Living
· Potter County Suicide Prevention Task Force
· Mental Health Disaster Preparedness
Center for Community Resources (CCR) is Potter County's Mental Health Crisis Hotline. They provide 24/7 mobile and phone services: 866-957-3224 or text #63288 
Base Service Unit (BSU)
The Base Service Unit is
available to assist individuals of all ages with accessing mental health
services/programs and supports in Potter County based on their needs and their
preferences.
The Base Service Unit
determines eligibility for various mental health programs and treatment. To contact the Base Service Unit please call
814-544-7315 or 1-800-800-2560 and ask for the Base Service Unit.
Blended Case Management (BCM)
Blended
Case Management is available to children, adolescents and adults with
serious and persistent mental illness or at risk of, who need assistance with
navigating mental health services.
Case
managers aid individuals through outreach and advocacy, to ensure they receive
the service necessary to keep them in the community and work toward
recovery. Recovery-based practices
include self-direction, empowerment and a holistic approach to service
provision. Caseloads are restricted by
size by regulation to ensure that there will be sufficient contact with each
individual to meet their particular needs.
Individuals develop a written service plan with their case manager as an
aid to monitor progress toward their goals.
Blended Case Management services are utilized in
addition to traditional outpatient treatment services and assist persons in
identifying measurable goals and objectives in areas such as housing/living,
vocational/educational, basic health/safety, mental health and basic needs. BCM staff will monitor service delivery,
coordinate service/treatment needs, access needed services, and link
individuals to appropriate services in the community. Participation in Blended Case Management is
voluntary.
Please call
Potter County Human Services Department of Mental Health should you have
questions about our Blended Case Management program 814-544-7315
Blended CM Referral Form
Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP)
The Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) came to Potter County in 1992. The Potter County CASSP Team meets as needed. A service of Potter County Mental Health, the Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) is an integrated approach to service and delivery planning for children and adolescents who are experiencing significant difficulties in physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral or social areas of development. The expertise and decision-making authority of the agency representatives is brought together in CASSP making it possible, in one meeting, to bring the full range of services to bear upon the challenge, thus increasing communication and support for the child/youth and their family. The CASSP team reviews cases referred, makes recommendations for services and develops a service plan for the client and his/her family. This consistently unified approach to children’s services will improve the effectiveness of all child-serving agencies and may result in new program development as service needs are identified and defined.
To be eligible for CASSP a child or adolescent (under the age of 21) must meet the following criteria:
Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP)
The Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) came to Potter County in 1992. The Potter County CASSP Team meets as needed. A service of Potter County Mental Health, the Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) is an integrated approach to service and delivery planning for children and adolescents who are experiencing significant difficulties in physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral or social areas of development. The expertise and decision-making authority of the agency representatives is brought together in CASSP making it possible, in one meeting, to bring the full range of services to bear upon the challenge, thus increasing communication and support for the child/youth and their family. The CASSP team reviews cases referred, makes recommendations for services and develops a service plan for the client and his/her family. This consistently unified approach to children’s services will improve the effectiveness of all child-serving agencies and may result in new program development as service needs are identified and defined.
To be eligible for CASSP a child or adolescent (under the age of 21) must meet the following criteria:
-- have had a recent psychiatric hospitalization
-- be involved in more than one child-serving system
-- have a mental health diagnosis that is impacting on his ability to function at home, school or in the community.
If a child does not have a mental health diagnosis, he/she will still be reviewed by the CASSP Team who will then make a recommendation that a psychiatrist or psychologist assess the child for a possible mental health diagnosis.
Coordination of service provision Services are voluntary and free. Emphasis is on consumer choice.
Services are child/adolescent centered, family focused, and community based and sensitive to cultural differences and promote the least restrictive, intrusive approach.
Please call Potter County Human Services Mental Health Department to talk with our CASSP Coordinator 814-544-7315
CASSP Referral Form
CASSP Brochure
Student Assistance Program (SAP)
The Potter County Department of Mental Health acts at the Mental Health Liaison for the schools SAP teams throughout the County. The Mental Health Liaison accepts referrals from the SAP team and conducts screenings, utilizing the Juvenile Inventory for Functioning (JIFF) and can make referrals to the appropriate resources as decided by the team.
Forensic Re-Entry Services
The Potter County Human Services Mental Health developed a Forensic Re-entry program to provide assistance to Potter County individuals that are incarcerated and have been previously diagnosed with a mental illness to transition
back into the community more smoothly. The program services include: housing assistance, education, life skills, employment, etc., while they are located at the Potter County Jail, Long Term Structured Residential Forensic Facility
and State correctional facilities. This service will continue to monitor the individual for six months to a year after release.
Forensic Re-entry Referral Form
Forensic Re-entry Brochure
Forensic Re-entry Handbook
Reentry Coalition
The Potter County Coalition seeks to reduce recidivism by supporting returning citizens as they transition to their communities after incarceration. Members of the Coalition, which includes private citizens, medical and therapeutic professionals, faith communities, employers, educators, non-profit agencies, and government entities, will help to facilitate the transition by identifying needs and making referrals to those agencies able to help individuals attain success and independence.
Local Housing Options Team (LHOT)
Our LHOT team is open to the community for anyone that would like to join. We meet the third Wednesday of every month at 1pm via Zoom.
Transformational Living
Please click the link below for information and the handbook.
Potter County Suicide Prevention Task Force
We are a community-based organization developed to address youth/teen suicide through public awareness, education & training, assist communities build sustainable suicide prevention programs, and to help strengthen existing community programs. Our taskforce offers several training opportunities, outreach events, and presentation in our school districts and the community.
Disasters can occur naturally (e.g., tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, wildfires, mudslides, or drought) or be human-caused (e.g., mass shootings, chemical spills, or terrorist attacks). Preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters and traumatic events is essential to the behavioral health of individuals and communities alike.
When people experience a disaster, they may experience a variety of reactions, many of which are natural responses to difficult situations. Most people show resilience after a disaster. Resilience is the ability to bounce back, cope with adversity, and endure during difficult situations. Thankfully, resilience in disaster recovery is ordinary, not extraordinary, and people regularly demonstrate this ability. Using supportive resources to address stress and other hardships is a critical component of resilience.
It is also common for people to show signs of stress after exposure to a disaster making it important to monitor the physical and emotional health of those affected as well as those responding to the needs of others. Although everyone reacts differently to disasters, some of those affected may suffer from serious mental or emotional distress. These individuals may develop or experience exacerbation of existing mental health or substance use problems, including for example, post-traumatic stress disorder. Finding treatment in a timely fashion will help individuals minimize negative outcomes.
Potter County Mental Health Providers
A Way Out FaceBook Page
Beacon Light Behavioral Health www.beacon-light.org
CareerLink www.pacareerlink.pa.gov
CenClear www.cenclear.org
Center for Community Resources www.ccrinfo.org
Concern Counseling www.concern4kids.org
Crossroads Counselng www.crossroadscounselinginc.com
Dickinson Mental Health www.dickinsoncenter.org
Merakey www.merakey.org
Northern Tier Children’s Home
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Disability-Services/ovr/Pages/default.aspx
Sagewood
The Guidance Center www.guidancecenter.net
UPMC-Cole TeleHealth www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/telemedicine-services/outpatient-telemedicine-centers/upmc-cole
Potter County Adult Mental Health Services
Please click the link below for information.
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services
If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to make a referral please call our office at (814)544-7315
