Community Psychiatric Centers is proud to meet the needs of adults on the autism spectrum through Adult Autism Waiver services, and those with Intellectual Disabilities, including Community Support, Behavioral Specialists, Systematic Skill Building, Supported Employment, and Career Planning. Each of these services is explained below in greater detail:
Behavioral Specialist Services
Behavioral Specialist Services (BSS) is used to provide support to participants with behaviors that are a problem for them. This may include disruptive or destructive behaviors, which make it hard to be active in the community or live at home. BSS includes the development of a Behavioral Support Plan (BSP) to address such concerns and direct individuals in the natural environment to also effectively manage these behaviors.
Career Planning Services
This service helps the participant identify a career direction and come up with a plan for getting a job at or above the minimum wage and getting a job in competitive employment (which means a job that is also done by people without disabilities.) This service can also be used to assist a participant with self-employment. Career Planning has two parts: Vocational Assessment and Job Finding:
- Vocational Assessment is used to develop a plan (called a Vocational Profile) to identify a career direction that meets the participant’s goals, needs, and abilities and will result in a job that is also done by people without disabilities that pays minimum wage or more or self-employment.
- Job Finding helps the participant find a job that is also done by people without disabilities that pays minimum wage or more. The job will match the participant’s needs and be a job the participant wants. It will also meet the employer’s needs. Job Finding can be provided to the participant or it can be provided when the participant is not present
Supported Employment
This service is for participants who need support to keep a job. Participants who get this service must have competitive, integrated employment. That means a job paying minimum wage at a job site that includes people without disabilities doing the same or similar work. The Supported Employment service may also be used to support a participant who is self-employed. Supported Employment can be provided directly to the participant or for the benefit of the participant when the participant is not present. It may include personal assistance (such as help using the restroom) as part of the service as long as that is a minor part of the support the participant receives from this service. Supported Employment has two parts: Intensive Job Coaching and Extended Employment Supports:
- Intensive Job Coaching provides on-the-job training and support. It helps participants learn how to do a new job for an employer, or for a self-employment situation. It can be used when the participant has a new job, or the job duties have changed and the participant needs more support.
- Extended Employment Supports are ongoing supports available for as long as needed for 20% or less of the work week. For example, if they work 20 hours a week, Extended Employment Supports could be used to provide support for fewer than 4 hours per week. This service helps participants keep their jobs.
Systematic Skill Building
Systematic Skill Building helps the participant learn skills that increase independence and participation in his or her community. These skills are not behavioral in focus. They include skills like cooking, using public transportation, or keeping one’s home neat. The Systematic Skill Building Specialist looks at the participant’s abilities and learning style. The Skill Building Specialist then develops a Skill Building Plan (SBP) to help build the specific skills for the participant.
Community Support
Community Support helps a participant gain, keep, and improve skills needed to live in the community. The goal of this service is for the participant to needless direct help. Community Support services include helping a participant improve the skills he or she needs to be active in the community. This includes helping the participant meet people, attend social events, and develop social relationships. They may also use this service to help them get to know their neighborhood and take part in community activities. He or she may go shopping, volunteer, or attend events. Community Support services can be used to assist a participant with self-care activities that are usually done at home such as bathing, dressing, eating, housework, managing money, or cooking.
Mobile Mental Health Services, or MMHS
Mobile Mental Health Services (MMHS) for children and adults is an invaluable service entailing a Master's level therapist working directly in the home and community with a child, teen, or adult, to promote behavioral health, emotional stability, and ability to adapt to life demands. This is recommended for individuals who have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder that involves emotional distress, such as mood or anxiety, and moderate and high-functioning autistic children and adults. It is also for individuals with personality disorders, relationship dysfunction, impulse control, or difficulties with reality testing. We conduct Individual psychotherapy in the home or community from a strength-based treatment approach. Call us today to find out more about this valuable treatment option.