| Community Housing Program
Philosophy of Program
The Community Housing Program is designed to provide services to individuals diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder who require a supervised living environment for community residency.
Services are designed to support the recovery and/or stabilization of individuals. Through service provision, symptoms will be reduced and individuals will experience an improvement in level of functioning. Services are supportive and individualized to enable continued residency in the facility and integration into the community. The program strives to continually improve service provision in order that individuals served experience an enhanced quality of life.
Program Description
The Community Housing Program operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week from each of the four residential facilities: Sterling Apartments, Country Lane Apartments, Harvest House Apartments and Curry Lane Apartments. Each residential facility has two apartments that are accessible to individuals with physical disabilities. In addition, Sterling Apartments has a unit that is equipped to meet the needs of a hearing impaired individual. The agency endeavors to accommodate individuals with special needs, or refers to providers equipped to meet their needs.
Admission Criteria
Individuals seeking housing services from the Brown County Mental Health Center shall meet the following admission criteria:
• 21 years of age or older
• primary diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder
• history of psychiatric hospitalizations
• established source of income
• behaviorally appropriate for a community housing residential facility
• adequate independent living skills (not requiring skilled nursing care)
• participation in psychosocial or vocational rehabilitation
Exclusionary criteria includes:
requires services that are not available to meet the needs of the individual
The Community Housing Supervisor is responsible for providing the final determination for eligibility. Individuals determined ineligible will be provided with a referral to alternative services.
Waiting List Policy
The Brown County Mental Health Center Community Housing Program consists of four apartment facilities, each containing sixteen (16) individual apartments. Referrals will be accepted from agencies designated in the Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan. Individuals or referral sources must complete an Application for Service/Mental Health Assessment to apply for housing services. Once received, the application will be screened to determine that it is complete and that the individual meets the admission criteria for the program.
All applications will be maintained in the Community Housing Referral Log and individuals meeting the admission criteria will be placed on the Waiting List form. Although the agency is unable to determine potential vacancies, when a vacancy does occur within the Community Housing Program, individuals on the Waiting List will be selected for admission based on priority for service. The following criteria is utilized to rate an individual for service:
Individuals referred by state operated facilities (i.e. Andrew McFarland MHC).
Individuals who are homeless or live in substandard housing.
The Brown County Mental Health Center is a member of the Mental Health Authority of West Central Illinois. Individuals referred by Community Mental Health Centers of the following counties will be given priority: Adams, Brown, Cass, Hancock, Pike and Schuyler.
Individuals referred by the Medical Director of the Brown County Mental Health Center.
Individuals referred by community hospitals or other community mental health centers.
Self-referral or referral by family member.
Unit assignment will be made according to the need for a handicapped accessible unit, availability and individual preference.
The Waiting List will be reviewed periodically by the Quality Assurance Coordinator. Periodically, contact letters will be sent to all individuals on the list to determine continued interest in housing. The Waiting List will be updated accordingly.
Discharge
Discharge criteria has been established consisting of the following:
1. Individual request
2. Completion of treatment
3. Lack of individual participation
4. Individual requires level or type of service not provided
5. Non-compliance with agency policies
Description of Services
The Community Housing Program offers the following services to individuals served in order to meet the established goals and objectives:
Constant (24/7) staff supervision of the residential facility providing supportive services, which are individualized according to need.
Outpatient services—individual counseling is provided to individuals on a monthly basis or as clinically indicated in order to reduce symptoms and support stabilization.
Crisis Intervention services—counseling, crisis room monitoring or hospitalization referral services are provided to individuals experiencing an exacerbation of symptoms and decompensation in their level of functioning.
Psychiatric services—consultations are provided quarterly or as clinically indicated by a licensed psychiatrist to evaluate symptoms and monitor prescribed psychotropic medication. Clinical staff interact with the psychiatrist between consultations to insure adequate monitoring.
Case Management services—nursing services consisting of administration of physician orders, medication dispensation and education, evaluation of medical or psychiatric issues, and continuity with medical or psychiatric personnel; referral, linkage, support or advocacy for community resources, providers and necessities; representative payeeship to manage Social Security entitlements; support/monitoring of a psychiatric disorder; a monthly forum to discuss and address program issues and other areas of concern; and facilitate continuity between individuals served and family members or guardians.
Rehabilitative Stabilization Services (RSS)—assistance and training are provided to individuals with limited independent living skills. Staff provide services in the following areas: grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, housekeeping, hygiene, diet and glucose monitoring.
Program Guidelines
The following guidelines have been established for individuals living in our Community Housing facilities.
Individuals must:
• comply with agency policies and procedures
• comply with prescribed medication and treatment with staff monitoring
• consult with the psychiatrist as scheduled
• complete a physical, vision, and dental examination annually
• pay rent by the third day of each month
• take responsibility for the storage of furnished items they choose not to use
• notify staff before leaving and after returning to the complex for safety reasons
• follow basic principles of safety, not jeopardizing the safety of self or others
• take responsibility for insuring their apartment is organized and clean.
• attend monthly meetings and participate in emergency drills
• be responsible for trash removal, utilizing leak-proof plastic bags
• obtain permission and assistance when hanging pictures, mirrors, plaques, etc. on the walls or doors
• report damages or required maintenance as soon as possible to staff
• replace any lost apartment key for a fee of $1.00
Living Considerations
• Possession of alcohol/illegal substances is prohibited in the buildings, including the apartment.
• Smoking is permitted outdoors and inside the apartments, with the exception of the bedroom (and unless individual circumstances warrant future restrictions). • Cigarette butts should be placed in appropriate containers for disposal.
• Pick up after self when using the community lounge, patio or grounds.
• Use of the telephone for incoming or outgoing calls is limited to three calls per day for five minutes and calls are to be local and/or collect only.
• Obscene or abusive language or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.
• Threats of physical violence or physical violence will not be tolerated. Law enforcement personnel will be contacted to handle violent situations.
• Be aware that others are also living in the residential facility. Use respect and tolerance regarding noise levels.
Laundry Room
• Laundry room hours are 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• The laundry room is for use by individuals residing in the facility only.
• Clean around the machines with a damp cloth after using washers and dryers, and remove lint from the dryers.
• Keep the floors of the laundry room clean by wiping up any spills and utilizing the trash cans for lint, empty soap boxes, dirt, etc.
• Remove laundry from the machines promptly when finished.
• Do not overload the washers and always use the appropriate amount of detergent for the load size that is washing. Consult staff on duty if unsure.
• Laundry supplies may be kept in the storage bins provided, where applicable. Do not use supplies from another tenant’s bin without permission. The Brown County Mental Health Center cannot be responsible for items lost or stolen.
Visitors
• All visitors must register with staff prior to entering an apartment.
• All visitors (except family members) must be over 21, or obtain a signed parental consent form if a minor.
• A visitor may stay in the apartment for a period of two weeks monthly.
• Residents are to accompany visitors when using the lounge or other common areas within the facility.
• The agency reserves the right to refuse admittance to any visitor.
Absence Policy
The Brown County Mental Health Center Community Housing Program is a structured environment providing supportive measures for individuals to achieve community tenure. The program encourages individuals to maintain family contact with visits away from the facilities when psychiatrically appropriate. In order for individuals to benefit from the program, residency is required for a minimum of two weeks per month. The agency recognizes that occasionally visits may need to exceed this timeframe; however, individuals are required to secure the approval of the Housing Supervisor prior to the visit. In addition, when individuals are experiencing an exacerbation of symptoms or behavior, visits may also be denied.
Behavioral Intervention
Violation of one or more of the program guidelines will result in the following actions:
1. Behavioral intervention by staff involving verbal redirection.
2. In the event that the above intervention is not successful, supervisory staff will conduct an individual consultation with the individual to discuss behavioral issues.
3. If the inappropriate behavior continues, a clinical staffing with the individual and the Treatment Team (and others, if appropriate) will be held to take one of the following actions:
A. Assessment/referral for appropriate, alternative services
B. Discharge from the program
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