Description of Services
Developmental Disabilities Unit
The Developmental Disabilities Unit of the Family Counseling Center serves as the MR Supports Coordination Unit for Armstrong County. Services for Early Intervention and Supports Coordination are coordinated through this unit. Early Intervention is a free service to children aged birth to 3 years with developmental delays or at risk for developmental delays. Supports Coordination is a free service for clients age 3 through adulthood. The Supports Coordinator facilitates individual plan development, locates providers, co-ordinates the provision of services and supports, and monitors the services and supports for eligible clients. A diagnosis of Mental Retardation must be documented prior to the age of the 22nd birthday to be eligible for services.

Referrals to this department, for both EI and Supports Coordination can be made from, but not limited to, client, parents/guardian, PCP or other medical professional, school, or other agency. Termination from EI occurs with the 3rd birthday of the child, when educational services are mandated. Should the child continue to need services through the D. D. Unit, the case is transferred to a Supports Coordinator.

Service Coordination provides 24 hour emergency on call by contacting the MH Delegate.

More information on the Supports Coordination Unit or EI department can be obtained by calling 724 545-1234.
Targeted Case Management
Targeted Case Mangement (TCM) assists eligible adults and children who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness in identifying 
and gaining acess to needed housing, food, medical, employment, recreation, and education services to achieve stability in the community. TCM 
services include assessment, care plan development, referral, monitoring, and follow-up. TCM provides a staff person on call for crisis 
situations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More information on TCM services can be obtained by calling 724-545-6566.
Strengths Based
The Strengths Based Treatment Program is a community based service providing mental health treatment to eligible children and adolescents 
in their home or community. SBT is prescribed following an assessment by a mobile therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist documenting that 
traditional oupatient is insufficient to meet the behavioral health needs of the child. TCM services include individual and family therapy, 
clinical case management, treatment plan development, and crisis intervention. Situations appropriate for SBT include but are not limited to 
step-downs or diversions from more restrictive levels of care, such as residential and inpatient. SBT services are provided by a 
Master's level mobile therapist in a 36 week schedule with periodic review meetings throughout treatment. More information on SBT services 
can be obtained by calling 724-545-3237.    
Child and Adolescent Partial
The Child and Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program (CAP) is an intensive mental health program with an educational component, providing 
mental health services to children and adolescents, ages 5-18, who are at risk for more restrictive interventions, such as 
inpatient hospitalization or residential treatment facilities.  This is a time-limited program that offers six hours of therapeutic clinical services 
per day coordinated with educational programming, including psychiatric evaluations, medication management, group therapy, individual therapy, family therapy 
and classroom education.  Students appropriate for the program are those experiencing severe psychiatric symptoms, disturbances of conduct, and 
other conditions affecting mental health, which seriously compromise or impair their capacity to function age-appropriately and adequately in multiple areas on 
a day-to-day basis. For more information about the CAP program contact your local school district, mental health 
professional or the CAP program at (724) 845-6667.
Base Service Unit
The Base Service Unit provides centralized clinical assessment, authorization, and referral for many services in the MH/MR system. This 
department is often the first contact a consumer has with the Family Counsleing Center. Referrals are accepted from individuals themselves, 
parent or guardian of the client, doctors, schools, hospitals, social service agencies and other sources. Intakes conducted by the Base 
service Unit establish both the consumer's financial liability for services and recommendations for clinical and case management services. Consumers 
are guaranteed freedom of choice in selecting providers of service and BSU staff will assist the consumer in contacting any service 
provider to schedule appointments. More information can be obtained by calling 724-543-2941.
Nursing
The psychiatric nursing department assists agency psychiatrists and clinicians in helping consumers meet recovery goals through participation in 
medication clinic. The objective is to provide necessary medical care and illness mangement in order to foster independence and optium 
level of functioning,  General responsibilities of the nursing staff include, but are not limited to, periodic assessment/evaluation of the 
consumer, medication monitoring, and education regarding effectiveness and side effects of medication. Nurses administer medication per MD order, 
monitor laboratory values, and consult with the psychiatrists. 
Outpatient Therapy
Outpatient Therapy
What is therapy?
Therapy is a partnership in which a therapist helps you better understand your problems and assists you in meeting your recovery goals.
Therapy can provide you the opportunity to talk openly and confidentially about your concerns.

How do I get started in therapy?
If you currently receive services from the Family Counseling Center, speak with your service provider (e.g. nurse, psychiatrist, case manager, etc.) and they can refer you for outpatient therapy. If you do not currently receive services from the Family Counseling Center, call 724-543-2941 to request an intake.
What types of therapy are available?
Individual therapy – You will work one-on-one with a therapist to help you find ways to cope with your problems and improve your quality of life.

Marital therapy –
A therapist will work with you and your partner to help you improve your communication skills and work through the problems in your relationship.

Family therapy –
Your family will work with a therapist to address problems that involve the family as a whole.

Child focused therapy –
A therapist will work with your child to help them through the problems they are dealing with while also working with you on ways that you can best help your child.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) –
A therapist will work with you and your young child (age 2-7) in order to teach you skills to increase the warmth and closeness of your relationship while effectively managing discipline challenges associated with strong-willed and defiant children.

Group therapy –
You will meet with a therapist and others who have similar problems in a setting where you can learn new skills and receive support and ideas from others who have been in similar situations to you. Current groups include: Women's Trauma group, Transition group, Mood Management Class, Men’s group, and Assertiveness group.
Partial Hospitalization Program

Adult Partial Hospitalization is an outpatient treatment modality which includes psychiatric, psychological, social and vocational elements under medical supervision. It is designed for consumers with moderate to severe mental or emotional disorders. Partial hospitalization consumers require less than 24-hour care, but more intensive and comprehensive services than are offered in outpatient treatment programs. Partial hospitalization is provided on a planned and regularly scheduled basis for a minimum of 3 hours, but less than 24 hours in any 1 day.

The goal of partial hospitalization is to increase the level of consumer functioning. The service may be provided to consumers with chronic or acute mental disorders who require active treatment. Its objectives include the following:

(1) The diversion of consumers from acute psychiatric inpatient units or to shorten the length of stay.

(2) Crisis stabilization and treatment of chronically ill consumers currently in treatment who require more intensive service for some period of time than is provided in outpatient programs.

(3) The return to the community of consumers in long-term placements, such as state psychiatric hospitals.

The program provides group therapy, individual therapy, educational groups and
helps consumers with a wide variety of services aimed at reducing psychiatric symptoms, increasing independence, and aiding in all aspects of their recovery from mental illness. Our aim is to have consumers reach their full potential, leading happy and productive lives in their own community. More information on the Adult Partial Hospitalization Program may be obtained by calling 724-548-5126.

Acute Partial Program
The Family Counseling Center of Armstrong County Acute Partial Hospitalization Program is an outpatient psychiatric service designed to stabilize acute symptoms by providing multi-disciplinary time-limited treatment at a level of intensity equal to an inpatient setting but on less than a 24-hour basis. With a goal of treating consumers in the least restrictive setting, the acute program functions as an alternative to inpatient hospitalization as well as a transition from inpatient care. A patient-to-staff ratio of six to one is maintained and individualized treatment planning is conducted under the supervision of a psychiatrist. Operating five days per week, six hours per day, the acute partial hospital program is separate and distinct from non-acute partial hospital treatment based on the level of intensity of services.

Group therapy, medication management, psychiatric evaluation, and patient education are inherent components of the acute partial program, with individual and family therapy provided as indicated. The following characteristics are associated with the more intense level of treatment in the acute program:

1. Consumers are expected to attend the program 5 days per week, up to six hours per day.
2. Average group therapy size is no larger than 6 consumers. Therapy groups can exceed 6 consumers on an as-needed basis but do not exceed an average of 6 consumers per day.
3. Individual therapy is available to the consumer as needed, including regularly scheduled weekly individual therapy if appropriate.
4. A psychiatrist is available to the consumer each day, including regularly scheduled medication checks and crisis oriented consultation.
5. Length of stay is 15-20 days.
6. Assessments for admission into the acute program can be completed within 24 hours of referral if necessary.

More information on the Acute Partial Hospitalization Program can be obtained
by calling 724-548-5126.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program
The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program is designed to provide adults experiencing functional disabilities resulting from chronic mental illness with a level of service that will assist in the development of skills to improve function and increase level of independence to attain their highest potential. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PRS) are provided independently of other services in the mental health system. However, these interventions occur concurrently with necessary clinical treatments and begin as soon as clinically possible, following diagnosis and subsequent treatment of the illness. Psychiatric rehabilitation provides a planned program of functional assessment, goal setting, identification of needed and preferred skills and supports. The program includes skills teaching where consumers learn to identify and manage supports and the resources needed to produce the desired outcomes consistent with person’s cultural environment. Psychiatric rehabilitation practices are guided by the basis philosophy that people with disabilities need opportunities to identify and choose for themselves their desired roles in the community with regard to living, learning, working and social environments.

Recovery is the ultimate goal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Interventions facilitate the process of recovery by helping consumers to re-establish normal roles in the community and their reintegration into community life. Persons who are clinically stable, but who still continue to exhibit functional impairment in at least one of the functional domains, are appropriate to receive PRS. To obtain more information on psychiatric rehabilitation services, call 724-545-5126.
BHRS (BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REHABILITATIVE SERVICES)
WHAT IS BHRS?

The Family Counseling Center’s BHRS is a program which provides outpatient mental health services to children and adolescents diagnosed with or at risk of developing severe emotional disorders.
The goal of these rehabilitation services is to maintain the child at home or as close to home and community as possible, in the most normalizing and age appropriate setting in order to avoid unnecessarily restrictive or otherwise inappropriate placements.
BHRS services consider the child’s family, community and cultural contexts, are developmentally appropriate and child specific, and build on the strengths of the child and family to meet the mental health, social, and physical needs of the child. The family participates in all phases of treatment planning.
Services may be provided in a variety of settings, including the child’s home or school.

WHO CAN RECEIVE SERVICES?

All Medical Assistance-eligible children and adolescents aged 0-21 who meet the medical necessity criteria are eligible for BHRS. A physician or licensed psychologist must prescribe BHRS.

HOW ARE SERVICES OBTAINED?

Families currently receiving services at the Family Counseling Center can request BHRS through their primary therapist or case manager. Other families within the community may be referred to the program by other agencies, or may be self referred.
Families interested in receiving more information or requesting services can call the BHRS Department at (724) 545-4565.

WHAT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED?

THERAPEUTIC STAFF SUPPORT (TSS)

Individually tailored rehabilitation services designed to provide one-on-one interventions to a child or adolescent at home, school, or in the community, in the most normalizing and age-appropriate setting. Services work toward the goal of avoiding unnecessary or otherwise inappropriate placements. TSS employs various mental health interventions to assist the child in developing age-appropriate self-management skills and to develop support skills in family members. These interventions may include positive behavioral reinforcements, emotional support, time-structuring activities and time-out strategies, or other psychosocial rehabilitative activities.

MOBILE THERAPY

Individually tailored therapeutic services designed to provide child-centered, family-focused individual and family therapy in the home or community setting in order to avoid unnecessary or otherwise inappropriate placements. A central component is the assessment of strengths and therapeutic needs of the child and family by employing active listening, asking questions, and exchanging information with the child and family. The mobile therapist provides strength-based psychotherapy according to the individualized needs of the child.

BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST CONSULTANT

Individually tailored consultation services provided to assist the treatment team in assessment and program design with the goal of avoiding unnecessary or otherwise inappropriate placements. In collaboration with other members of the treatment team, the behavioral specialist consults, designs, and monitors the implementation of a behavior modification intervention plan, identifying behavioral goals and intervention techniques and recommending non-aversive behavioral change methods. While having some direct contact with the child and family, the behavioral specialist consultant primarily provides assessment, design and monitoring of the treatment plan
Peer Specialist
Based upon the fundamental principles of recovery, peer support services are specialized therapeutic interactions conducted by self-identified current or former consumers of behavioral health services who are trained and certified to offer support and assistance in helping others in their recovery and community-integration process. Peer support is intended to inspire hope in individuals that recovery is not only possible, but probable. The service is designed to promote empowerment, self-determination, understanding, coping skills, and resilience through mentoring and service coordination supports that allow individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and co-occurring disorders to achieve personal wellness and cope with the stressors and barriers encountered when recovering from their disabilities.

Peer support is designed on the principles of consumer choice and the active involvement of persons in their recovery process. Peer support practice is guided by the belief that people with disabilities need opportunities to identify and chose for themselves their desired roles with regard to living, learning, working and social interaction in the community. For this reason, the agreement of the individual to receive services is critical.

On an ongoing basis, individuals receiving the service are given the opportunity to participate in and make decisions about the activities conducted. Services are self-directed and person-centered with a recovery focus. Peer support services facilitate the development of recovery skills. Services are multi-faceted and include, but are not limited to, individual advocacy, education, development of natural supports, support of work or other meaningful activity of the individual’s choosing, crisis management support, skills training, effective utilization of the service delivery system, and coordination of and linkage to other service providers.

The purpose of peer support services are to:

1. Provide opportunities for individuals receiving services to direct their own recovery and advocacy process;
2. Teach and support acquisition and utilization of skills needed to facilitate the individual’s recovery;
3. Promote the knowledge of available service options and choices;
4. Promote the utilization of natural resources within the community; and
5. Facilitate the development of a sense of wellness and self-worth.

More information on peer support services can be obtained by calling
724-548-5126.
BHRS Summer Camp
The Family Counseling summer therapeutic activities program is available to children under the age of 21 with serious emotional disturbances based on both the individualized needs of the child and the medical necessity justification for the services.

The summer therapeutic activities program provides a range of age appropriate specialized therapies and therapeutic activities designed to aid in the development of interpersonal relationship, daily living, decision-making, problem-solving and coping skills. These services are generally provided in an outdoor environment for the purpose of furthering individualized therapeutic goals as described in the individualized treatment plan and are integrated into the overall mental health treatment of the child.

Core services include the following:

1. Child centered interventions, including individual and group therapy using a strength-based approach, which vary according to the individualized needs of the child,

2. Structured therapeutic activities;

3. Community integration activities. These activities may include picnics, awards ceremonies, friendship practice assignments, career exploration, etc. The purpose of community integration activities is to assist the child in developing appropriate behaviors and responses in the community context.

The summer therapeutic activities program is child specific and is provided six
hours per day, at a maximum of five days per week, depending on the treatment needs of the child. A child specific service period is a minimum of two weeks with a maximum of five weeks per calendar year. More information on the BHRS summer program by calling 724-545-3206.
Mobile Crisis
The Family Counseling Center of Armstrong County provides a Mobile Crisis intervention program to Armstrong County and Indiana County residents. The Mobile Crisis Service is designed to provide rapid response to adults, children or adolescents and their families exhibiting acute problems of disturbed thought, behavior, mood or social relationships. Resolution of crisis situations which threaten the well being of the individual or others is attempted through assessment, counseling, screening and referral. For crisis intervention you may contact the MH/MR emergency staff or you may contact the Base Service Unit at the Family Counseling Center directly (724)543-2941.
SAP Program
The Student Assistance Program (SAP) Mental Health Liaison is responsible for providing services to all schools within Armstrong County as defined by the SAP state guidelines. The responsibilities depend on the individual needs of the school and may include:

*Providing mental health preassessments of students within the school setting
when deemed appropriate, with signed parental consent
*Aiding the family in accessing appropriate mental health services within the
community
*Providing on site emergency assessment and crisis intervention when needed
*Providing Postvention services when needed
*Providing assistance to schools, families and students in regard to types of
services, appropriateness of referrals, availability and accessing mental health
and community services
Family Based Crisis Team
The Family Based Crisis Team is a program designed to prevent hospitalization or out-of-home placement of a child or adolescent with emotional disturbances and when appropriate to assist in reuniting families whose child or adolescent has been placed outside of the home. The service provides intensive therapeutic interventions and support services to the child and family to empower the family to care for their child with an emotional disturbance.

The guiding principle of the Family Based Crisis Team is that children grow up best in their own homes. Consequently, there is an emphasis upon families as partners and resources in treatment planning and in ongoing treatment. Unique aspects of the program are:

• Family Bases Crisis Team is a comprehensive service provided by a team composed of a mental health professional and a mental health worker.
• Services are brief and intensive; lasting only 30 days. Up to 10 hours a week of in-home therapy support can be provided.
• The team is available to enrolled families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• The Program is provided in the family’s home and community.
• Services includes referral and linkage to other social service agencies as needed.
• The Crisis Team can arrange family supports, such as respite care and participation in parent and sibling support groups.

Since children and families do not live in isolation, services are oriented to assisting children in receiving maximum benefit from school and community activities, and helping families identify and access community resources. When families are involved with two or more child-serving agencies, the program seeks to ensure coordination of services among those agencies.

The Crisis Team works in close partnership with the child and family to identify the child’s and family’s strengths and to assess areas of need. The child, family and team then collaborate to develop a treatment plan to build upon strengths and address the identified needs. This may include increasing coping capacities, problem-solving abilities and life skills, or improving management of stress and parenting skills. Since the program operates from an underlying commitment to a “Whatever It Takes” philosophy, treatment plans are highly individualized and tailored to each child and family’s unique situation.

In summary, families and professionals work in partnership to build upon strengths and address needs, in order for families to care for their children at home.
Family Based Mental Health Services
Family Based Mental Health Services provides comprehensive in-home team delivered services to assist families to care for their children with emotional disturbances at home. The goal is to maintain the child or adolescent in the home rather than inappropriate placement in a psychiatric hospital, foster care, group home or long-term residential facility. Parents are essential collaborators in the process of identifying and clarifying new behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs, which will allow families to remain intact. The family is seen as the means of positive change and thus the goal is to encourage family involvement. FBS works to assist the families in finding individualized, alternative methods to meet their own family’s needs, other than placement of the child.

The model for the Family Based Services program focuses on a non-traditional, hand-on approach working with the strengths and resources of the family. FBS is characterized by intensive and comprehensive services driven by the needs of the family. The majority of services to a family are provided by a two-person treatment team, with an emphasis on therapeutic flexibility and creativity. Families need to receive individualized services focusing on their strengths and resources. For most families participating in the program, other more traditional models of treatment have not succeeded in meeting the needs of their family system.

FBS starts at the family’s reality; meeting the family where it is at. This approach begins with listening to the family’s own definition of itself and of its problems and continues with the provision of services in the family’s home and community respecting socio-economic, geographic, and cultural differences. It is expected that most services are provided in the family’s home but flexibility in site is also supported. The interdependence of the child, the family and their environment are incorporated in a systemic view of treatment. With a family approach, the child or adolescent becomes the entry into the family unit rather than focus remaining entirely on the identified child. The full and voluntary participation of family members and their extended network is seen as essential to the planning and delivery of services.

The FBS program four main components of services to families:

1. Family-oriented therapies and assessment - includes family, individual, and group therapy.
2. Case management - includes liaison and collaboration with other service agencies and community resources involved with the family and advocacy with these systems.
3. Emergency crisis intervention - provides the family 24 hours a day access to a therapist. Families involved with FBS can call to speak with a therapsit during a family crisis situation. In the event of a child needing to be hospitalized, FBS will make every effort to support the family. If the child is involuntarily hospitalized (201), the FBS therapist will meet the family at the hospital, if requested by a family member or hospital worker.
4. Family support and respite services - provides limited funds to assist families meet basis living needs.

The goal of the family therapy component is to address the specific concerns of the family members in collaboration with the family and to identify specific ways to promote positive change. The participation of members of the entire family network is encouraged due to the FBS belief that each family has unique strengths and resources and can benefit from individualized treatment services. The intent is to strengthen and stabilize the family unit by increasing both the life management and coping skills of the family by developing strategies for enhanced parenting skills and more effective family communication, as well as focusing on the issues that are preventing the family from functioning effectively. The therapeutic work spotlights short term, concrete, practical goals as steps to these long-term elements of the family treatment. The teams utilize individualized treatment modalities that best fit the needs of the family. Creative approaches are emphasized. Although the treatment goal is to prevent out-of-home placement of a child, it is acknowledged that maintaining the child in the home is not the only criteria for success. Planned placements of the child or family members may be essential to reach the appropriate long-term goals for the family. FBS provides continuous support and management especially during a crisis situation with the availability of a 24-hour day emergency on-call service.

FBS involvement focuses not only on mental health needs, but also provides a case management element. The treatment team works closely with the family to coordinate services and available resources of other children’s service systems and also community resources and services. The team functions as liaisons with the family and all service systems and supportive networks, including but not restricted to education, mental health, mental retardation, Office of Children and Youth, Drug and Alcohol, Juvenile Probation, medical, legal, and parent advocacy. While the team will provide advocacy for the family, the primary focus is on improving the communication between the family and the service systems for the time after FBS involvement ends.

FBS also works to develop the natural support system of the family including the extended family, neighborhood, and community service resources and linkages that will be essential to the family after FBS involvement ends. The goal is to empower the families to access these resources on their own.

FBS can also provide family support services. Ecological and environmental stressors impact on a family system. The needs-based treatment philosophy allows FBS not only the case management capabilities to coordinate with agencies and resources but also a limited, emergency financial ability to provide a family with additional supports and services to stabilize the family unit. FBS assists in temporary child-care services or short-term respite placement. Family support services funds are also available for flexibility and creativity in the therapeutic process.

Although the different FBS county programs are separate entities, there is a uniform agreement with the basic principles of individualized, family-driven, intensive, creative, flexible, home-based treatment. There is also a commitment to training and networking support for the staff of these programs. The FBS program is available without discrimination to all children under twenty-one regardless of source of funding.