Care Coordination

The purpose of the Care Coordination Program is to reduce the number of involuntary commitments that occurr in Mercer, McDowell and Wyoming Counties. We have implemented a system of proactive, rather than reactive strategies, services, and supports. Our program targets individuals with severe mental illness and co-occurring disorders of mental illness and substance dependence. When someone is discharged from a State Hospital or one of their deferred hospitals, we work with our Center Liaison to ensure that the individuals's basic needs are met, such as food, water and a place to sleep. And we continue to work with that individual to maintain their stability in the community. Our goal is to maintain the individual in their natural environment and educate both the consumer and the family on mental illness so that the consumer feels comfortable and secure in their community.

We accomplish this by identifying the individuals patterns of commitment and current social, legal, physical, psychological, financial and ADL service/support needs. At that time a proactive plan is implemented to minimize the risk of repeat commitments and need for crisis services. Services provided include medication monitoring to ensure compliance with prescribed medications, access to other services in the community, ensuring that the individual is receiving all entitlements that they qualify for, resolution of issues leading up to homelessness when possible, and overall support of the individual to ensure they have access to medial care and have transportation to all psychiatric appointments.

Our Care Coordination Program works with every existing program within Southern Highlands to reduce commitments and decrease recidivism. We also work with area hospitals to prevent commitments and link those individuals with community resources and provide supports where there are none. We will work with those with mental illness and substance dependence diagnoses obtain detox and residential treatment versus commitment - which does not meet the long term needs of most chronic substance abusers.

If you have questions regarding a referral to the program please contact:

Kimberly Oxley, Care Coordination Supervisor
304-425-9541 x.319
kimberlyoxley@shcmhc.com