Mission
The Mission of the Wicomico
County Core Service Agency is to plan, develop and manage a
coordinated, comprehensive accessible, culturally sensitive and age
appropriate system of publicly funded mental health services and
support for individuals with psychiatric disorders who meet certain
eligibility criteria, and in conjunction with community stakeholders
promote resiliency, health and recovery.
Overview of the Public
Mental Health System (PMHS)
The PMHS is jointly
coordinated and administered by the Mental Hygiene Administration
(MHA), Core Service Agencies (CSA's) and APS Healthcare (the
Contracted Administrative Service Organization).
MHA has oversight authority
of the PMHS, which includes policy development, State-wide planning,
resource allocation, and continuous quality improvement
responsibilities.
APS Healthcare (APS), also
known as MAPS-MD, is the administrative service organization for the
PMHS providing support to MHA and CSA's by determining consumer
eligibility, issuing authorizations for services, conducting
utilization review of services, collecting data and submitting
reports and processing billing claims and remitting payments to
providers.
CSA's are local mental
health authorities responsible for planning, managing and monitoring
public mental health services at the local level. Functions
include planning, developing and managing a full range of treatment
and rehabilitation services for individuals with serious mental
illness in their jurisdiction as stipulated by the Health General
Article 10-10-1203, Annotated Code of Maryland.
Wicomico County CSA
Assistance Programs
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Client Special Needs:
one-time only funds to assist mental health consumers in the
Public Mental health System (PMHS) maintain or access community
placement. Examples of eligible cost include: security
deposit and first months rent, utility turn on and/or deposit,
past due utility bills, dental assistance, etc.
-
Laboratory Assistance:
assistance for uninsured patients of the PMHS for blood
tests necessary to monitor psychiatric medications.
-
Pharmacy Assistance:
funds for uninsured patients of the PMHS for psychiatric
medications.
-
Transportation
Assistance: provides assistance for uninsured patients of
the PMHS and Medical Assistance consumers of the PMHS in need of
transportation for service linkages not covered by medical
transport.
-
Project for Assistance
in Transition from Homelessness (PATH): provides funding to
PMHS consumers with security deposits, one-time only rental
payments to prevent eviction, minor renovations and/or repairs
to a home owned by a consumer, and technical assistance applying
for housing. Consumers must be homeless, or at risk of
eviction and be able to maintain payment of rent/ mortgage after
assistance is received.
-
Shelter Plus Care
Housing Program (SPCHP): permanent supportive housing
program for homeless PMHS consumers who have a serious mental
illness, and are currently incarcerated or have recently been
released due to misdemeanor charges.
Wicomico County CSA
Grant Funded Services
-
Child Psychiatrist
Supplement: salary supplement provided by the State for
rural areas to assist in the recruitment and retention of
qualified child psychiatrists.
-
Jail Mental Health:
provides mental health services at Wicomico County Detention
Center. Services include case management, individual and group
therapy and psychiatric services within the jail.
Aftercare planning is also provided to link individuals with
community services upon release.
-
Family Intervention
Specialist: provides a licensed mental health clinician to
the Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) to work with youth who
have been discharged from a residential placement. The
Family Intervention Specialist works with the families of these
youth. Training and consultation are also provided to DJS
staff.
-
Minority Youth Mental
Health Outreach: provides services to all nine counties of
the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Outreach and education is
provided to youth, parents, child-serving agencies and the
faith-based community to increase the understanding and reduce
the stigma of receiving mental health services. Also
provides education regarding the disproportionate juvenile
minority confinement issue to develop strength based, culturally
relevant interventions to help assure minority youth remain in
the community.
-
Education and Training
programs: provides educational forums and conferences for
special interest groups, mental health providers, consumers and
family members.
