On Site Visit to Human Services

In 1965, there was a histrionic change in the method that mental health care was delivered in the United States. The focus went from State Mental Hospitals to outpatient settings for the treatment of mental health issues. With the passing of Medicaid, States were encouraged to move patients out of the hospital setting (Pan, 2013). This process failed miserably due to under funding and understaffing for the amout of patients that were released from the State Mental Hospitals. This resulted in patients, as well as their families, who were in dire need of mental health services. This population turned to either incarceration (jails and/or prisons) or emergency departments as a primary source of care for their loved ones.

The organization provides the usual array of inpatient services expected in a moderate-sized community hospital. A local nursing home

This hospital is operated under the direction of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. They offer their services to people within a twenty-two county, 14,622 square mile area including Bowie, Dallas, and Kaufman Counties. According to the Chamber of Commerce (2009), their services are offered to children 6 to 12 years of age, adolescence ages 12 to 18 and adults. Programs include acute care, an intensive behavioral program, medical services, forensic care for inmates of state correctional institutions intermediate care, a cottage program for adult life skills and a research center.

Each of these programs aids and assets adults, families, children, and disabled clients in addressing discrimination, oppression, vulnerabilities, and conditions of inequality, as well as empowers the clients in making positive change in their lives.

Heritage Oaks Hospital provides a less restrictive step-down treatment environment at three outpatient centers: Harbor Oaks in West Sacramento serves adults and senior adults; Roseville Oaks serves adolescents, adults, and senior adults; and Winding Oaks next to the main hospital serves adults and senior adults. According to course textbook, the goal of outpatient programs is to improve quality of life and to return clients to daily activities among family, peers, and the community (Varcarolis, 2013). The treatments available include psychiatric, emotional, behavioral, and substance abuse. These outpatient centers have partial hospitalization program (PHP) and intensive outpatient program (IOP). According to the hospital website, outpatient services include physician oversight, medication management, group therapies, educational practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) (heritageoakshospital.com, 2017). I was assigned to Roseville Oaks Outpatient Behavioral Health Center. It was helpful for me to

Florida Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) is a program that provides comprehensive community counseling to individuals diagnosed with a debilitating mental illness. It is federally funded by the State of Florida Department of Children and Families and serves a clientele of 100 adults in the Volusia and Flagler County areas. It is a derivative of the Program of Assertive Treatment (PACT) which was developed in Wisconsin in the 1970s when deinstitutionalization was a major practice in the mental health field. This outpatient program is rehabilitation and recovery oriented. FACT is unique in that it is the only service available that offers a housing, medication, and flexible funding subsidy to enrolled individuals which help to integrate them back into mainstream civilization to be productive members of society—reducing hospitalization, homelessness, and criminal incarceration among the mentally ill.

This facility is mainly focused on the treatment of substance abuse. Their goal is to save lives by helping people with addictions to overcome their substance abuse issues. They also provide services for the emotional causes that often go along with substance

The treatment centers are intended to achieve community and emotional support, behavioral, and educational needs of youth in rehabilitation. Youth enrollees must earn a successful release by completing spectrum seven stages of intellectual healing process aimed to changed delinquent thinking and behavior. The program is customized and time in treatment is uncertain for each enrollee. Normally, treatment last 12 to 14 months, though based on each youth treatment mission.

In 1955, over 559,000 individuals resided in inpatient psychiatric hospitals. By 1995, however, the number had drastically diminished to 69,000, (National Health Policy Forum, 2000). This drastic reduction was largely due to the discovery of antipsychotic medications in the 1950s, and the deinstitutionalization movement of the 1960s, wherein several thousands of mentally ill individuals were released from psychiatric institutions to return to their communities for treatment. Mental health centers (MHCs) were conceptualized during deinstitutionalization to provide treatment to these newly-released mentally ill persons in their communities. Although efforts were well-intended, the MHCs failed to serve the

Pennsylvania Mentor’s Lehigh Valley location provides Intensive Case Management (ICM) / Resource Coordination (RC) service, Family Based Mental Health Services and Certified Peer Support Services (CPS). Although these three programs are different, they all provide services to their clients in the home and in the community. ICM/RC’s help their clients with scheduling and following through with medical and mental health appointment, navigating social security and public welfare system, finding employment and utilizing community resources. Family Based Mental Health offers intensive mental health treatment to children who have a mental health diagnosis while providing services to their families. The CPS program help’s clients meet their recovery goals through the support of an individual who also has a mental health diagnosis.

I have read and utilized some of the following theories from some classic nursing theorists

Throughout nursing, there are many theories that nurses may come across and use. Calista Roy’s and Betty Neuman are two theorists that use two different types of models to encompasses the health, person, and the environment. Callista Roy uses a theory that promotes adaptation to the stimuli a person may encounter. Betty Neuman uses a theory that promotes equilibrium in a time where a person will encounter stress. These theories allow the nurse to bring a knowledge to learn more about the person and the factors that influence their health. Although with any theory there are different approaches in how the nursing plan is done, but with the patient in mind, it makes the difference in care that is given and allows for better outcomes for the patient.

Every community mental health and local agency programs provide a needed service in the local community. Each program is important and provides everyone access to crucial mental health treatment and other needed resources. These programs provide services such as access to medication, emergency mental health services and counseling for everyone that do not have the means to pay for these services. Different centers provide specific services that are needed in a high-need area. One centers service may include group counseling, individual counseling, assessments, and pharmaceutical services at a low cost. Another center may provide services such as support groups, classes on different topics,

There are many different nursing theories that are significant to nursing practice, because they help nurses to examine what is already known, and what additional knowledge and skills are required in variety of nursing situations. They provide basis for nursing practice, as well as some additional tools, that help with delivery of better care to patients and caregivers. Finally, nursing theories improve professional status for nurses and provide guidance and direction for research and education (Colley, 2003).

Our mission is to provide great healthcare and clinical services that promote the health and safety of our community. We are patient centered with a focus on prevention. Through efficient use of office staff and medical technology, we are able to offer exceptionally accessible and personal care in a comfortable atmosphere. We are here to serve you and your entire family from infants, toddlers, school-age children, teens, young adults, pregnant women, and adults.