Community Support Services: Additional Services

CSS Transportation Services – This service is designed to provide transportation, primarily rides to and from work and school to CSS consumers of Johnson County when no other transportation options or resources are available.

Evidence-based Best Practice – Strengths Based Case Management: The purpose of case management in the strengths model is to assist people recover and reclaim their lives by identifying, securing, and sustaining the range of resources needed to live, work, and play as fully integrated citizens of the communities in which they live. It is based on a set of core principles that in part value the unique strengths and attributes of all individuals and views the community as a place of strength and resources. Strengths based case management also holds that the primary setting for our work is in the community. Through a community based approach case managers are able to directly assist people to access helpful community resources, teach daily living skills in each persons living/working environment, as well as observe and assist people in learning coping skills and social skills needed to develop healthy relationships within their communities.

Evidence-Based Practice - Supported Employment: Is a well-defined approach to helping people with mental illnesses find and keep competitive employment within their communities. Supported employment programs are staffed by employment specialists who have frequent meetings with treatment providers to integrate supported employment with mental health services. Other important qualities of evidence-based practice include supporting consumers’ work preferences, providing benefits counseling, and timely ongoing supports. Our CSS team has achieved Kansas Exemplary Status Awards for achieving Fidelity in Supported Employment for 2008 and 2009.

Supported Education - Many individuals have a desire to return to college, apprenticeships, or complete high school after their education was interrupted during the onset of mental illness. Others wish to continue college to enhance their employment opportunities. Supported Education services help consumers of mental health services pursue their careers through post-secondary education and training. Identification of career interests, help with applying for financial student aid, enrollment, campus orientation, obtaining academic / campus accommodations such as tutoring, and regular semester support are some of the activities that supported education can offer.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – Is a treatment program for persons diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder or for people whose lives are in constant turmoil and despair. This therapeutic intervention has been effective in greatly reducing hospitalizations and use of crisis services.

Integrated Dual Recovery – Five groups a week specifically designed for individuals living with a severe and persistent mental illness who have concerns with substance abuse. In addition, the Dual Recovery Team provides training to all staff on utilizing motivational interviewing techniques and stage-wise treatment planning.

Family Involvement - Mental illness impacts more than just the person with a diagnosis, it also affects his or her loved ones. Research indicates that family psycho-education reduces family stress and strain and helps to improve the lives of people with living with serious mental illness. CSS actively collaborates with local groups who provide psycho-education programs and support to families. Furthermore, we train our staff to engage consumers’ loved ones in the recovery process, to identify the needs of family members in various stages of recovery, and to enhance their understanding of the family’s experience.

Common Ground – is a collection of decision aids for both practitioners and clients developed to support the Shared Decision Making (SDM) process. Shared Decision Making has been defined as a collaborative process between a client and a practitioner, who recognize one another as experts, working together to exchange information and clarify values in order to arrive at healthcare decisions.

Mental Health Pre-Trial Diversion Program - The diversion program is intended to give a “second chance” to offenders who commit a relatively minor criminal offense and who are identified as having a serious and persistent mental illness. The objective of the program is to direct individuals in need of treatment to mental health services while avoiding criminal proceedings.

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