Behavioral Health

What are Behavioral Health Services?

Behavioral Health services are comprised of mental health and drug and alcohol services.

Community mental health services are administered through county Mental Health and Developmental Services (MH/DS) program offices.  These offices are part of county government and are overseen by a county MH/DS administrator.

The county MH/DS offices serve as a referral source.  Most actual mental health services are delivered by local provider agencies under contract with the county MH/DS office.  The county MH/DS office determines a person’s eligibility for service funding, assesses the need for treatment or other services and makes referrals to appropriate programs to fit treatment and/or other service needs.

Many mental health and drug and alcohol services are provided via the HealthChoices program.  For mental health and drug and alcohol services, each county contracts with a managed care organization (MCO).  Once you are enrolled with the MCO, you continue to have choices as to who provides your services.  The MCO will send you a handbook outlining how to access services and outlining the benefits available to you.  If a practitioner is a HealthChoices participating provider, and is accepting new clients, you have the right to see that doctor.

Under the behavioral health component of the HealthChoices program, counties are required to ensure high-quality care and timely access to appropriate mental health and drug and alcohol services, and to facilitate effective coordination with other needed services.  Each HealthChoices consumer is assigned a Behavioral Health Managed Care Organization (BH-MCO) based on his or her county of residence.  Members, then, have a choice of behavioral health care providers within the BH-MCO’s network.

What are some examples of services?
• Outpatient Services – Counseling, Therapy, Medication Management
• Case Management
• Crisis Intervention and Emergency Services
• Student Assistance Program
• Family Based Mental Health Services
• Children’s Evidence-Based Services – Multisystemic Therapy (MST)
• Peer Support Services
• Family Support Services
• Forensic Services
• Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services
• Partial Hospitalization
• In-Patient Hospitalization

How are services funded?
Services are funded by self-pay, private insurance, medical assistance, as well as other federal, state, and county dollars depending on availability of funds.

Who is eligible?
Any resident of Lackawanna or Susquehanna County may make application through the Community Mental Health Centers which determine eligibility for funding.

How to apply?
Contact one of our Community Mental Health Centers:
• Friendship House – 570-342-8305
• Scranton Counseling Center – 570-348-6100