Community-Based Services

The Department of Community Mental Health Services manages and provides access to a wide array of services for adults, children and families.

Community-based services are made available to adults with serious mental illnesses. Services are obtained by application to the department. Many programs have a limited capacity so some are treated as priority requiring expedited access to services. Community-based services include:

• Case Management involves the coordination of services and supports on behalf of an individual. A case manager can help an individual manage their life in areas like housing, physical and mental health and job readiness and employment. There are two levels of case management—supportive and intensive.
• Housing New York State funds several types of housing for individuals with serious mental illness. The appropriate type of housing is selected based on the individual’s ability to live independently.
• Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a program that provides treatment, rehabilitation and support services to individuals who are diagnosed with a severe mental illness. ACT teams are multi-disciplinary and include members from the fields of psychiatry, nursing, psychology, social work, substance abuse and vocational rehabilitation.
• Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) The AOT legislation provides court-ordered support for treatment and case management to individuals pose a significant danger to themselves and/or others. DCMH is required by state law to monitor court ordered treatment and diversion services.
• Forensic Services provides training and community outreach to police officers and other county employees such as those working in the Department of Probation and the county jail on how to deal with people who are mentally ill or emotionally disturbed as these people move through the criminal justice system.