Helps make community services available to children, adolescents, and adults living in the county.
Your first step should be to talk with the provider agency of that service. If that does not result in a positive outcome, you can also call the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Office of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Early Intervention at (610) 278-3642
Medical Assistance (MA)
Children who have been diagnosed with developmental disabilities, emotional disorders, behavioral disorders, and/or medical conditions, are eligible for health insurance through Medical Assistance (MA). MA provides important funding for behavioral health services, medicines, and medical care.
When children with a disability apply for MA, their parents’ income is not considered to determine eligibility. Many children with a disability can also apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is based on a parent’s income.
Information for obtaining Medical Assistance (MA) can be obtained at the Montgomery County Assistance Office, in several ways:
By Phone: (610) 270-3500
In Person: 1931 New Hope Street, Norristown, PA 19401
Online: www.compass.state.pa.us
After submitting an application, the County Assistance Office contacts individuals for an interview. This may be done in person or over the phone. The office will then review the application. Individuals will receive a letter in the mail if their child is eligible for MA and the effective date.
If further assistance is needed in applying for MA or if families have questions regarding children with private or commercial insurance through a parent’s employer, an Administrative Case Manager at a local Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) can help - Merakey: (215) 368-2022
Mental Health Support and Treatment Services
Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC)
Sometimes called Core Providers or Base Service Units (6 CBHC ‘s in Montgomery County)
Creative Health Services
Penn Foundation
Merakey - NP School District
Child and Family Focus
Central Behavioral Health
Lower Merion Counseling Services
Case Management Services
Administrative Case Management Services (ACM) - Short term services available at the community Behavioral Health Centers across the county. Provides assistance to link families and youth to MA and other services and supports
Blended Case Management Services (BCM) - Community-based service that partners with children and their families to maximize their potential for independent community living, improve educational/vocational status, increase social support networks, and reduce psychiatric hospitalizations (children and adolescents through age 21).
Community-Based Services
Outpatient Therapy - Individual, family, and group therapy delivered in an office setting typically one time a week.
Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) - Combination of services and supports that are delivered in the home and community setting.
Summer Therapeutic Activities Program (STAP) - Interactive therapeutic environment that provides qualified clinical staff to work with each child on behavioral goals and social skills in a recreational setting.
Therapeutic After School Program (TASP) - Interactive therapeutic environment that provides qualified clinical staff to work with each child on behavioral goals and social skills in a recreational setting. Offers psychoeducational lessons created from evidence based materials (Indian Creek Foundation).
Family Based Services (FBS) - Service provided in the home and community, utilized for children at risk of out-of-home placement due to their mental health issues or who have recently returned from an out-of-home-placement. It is based on an Ecosystemic Structural Family Therapy (ESFT) approach and combines individual therapy, family therapy, and case management services.
Multisystemic Therapy (MST) - Family and home-based treatment that strives to change how youth function in their natural settings (home/school/neighborhood) in ways that promote positive social behavior while decreasing antisocial behavior including substance use.
Partial Hospital Services (PHP) - Services that are short-term intensive behavioral health services for youth experiencing severe distress.
Respite - Placement for a child for a short period. It allows a child and family to have a break from each other. It helps to keep family safe and stable
Inpatient Services - 24/7 hospital-based treatment services. It is support for children and adolescents experiencing emotional or behavioral crises that cannot be managed safely in the community.
Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (pRTF/RTF) - Intensive diagnostic and therapeutic behavioral health services. This service is for youth who have exhausted community-based services and their needs are greater than can be managed in the community setting.
Community Residential Rehabilitation Host Home (CRR Host Home) - Family dwellings that provide 24-hour living arrangements and mental health treatment for children and adolescents whose psychiatric and/or behavioral health needs are such that they cannot be treated effectively within their own home, but can benefit from treatment in a natural home like environment within a community (children and adolescents up to age 21).
Transition to Independence (TIP) - Supported model to work with young people experiencing emotional and/or behavioral difficulties. TIP works to support young people in their own futures planning process across five transition domains.
Educational Opportunities
Living Situation
Employment and Career
Community Life Functioning
Personal Effectiveness and Well-Being
Transitional Age Youth Peer Support (TAY CPS) - Peer specialists who are individuals with lived experience that are trained to share their stories of recovery and resiliency. They engage and inspire transition age youth to plan for what is important to them in their everyday life.
Transitional Age Youth Support (TAY) Program - Provides a community based opportunity for youth to build upon their strengths and develop essential skills for transitioning to young adulthood. TAY offers psychoeducational programs on topics including pre-vocational skills, dating, relationships, bullying, safe use of social media, wellness, and more.
Trail Guides - Peer-mentoring program for young adults with mental health or emotional disturbance diagnosis residing in Montgomery County. The program helps young people choose paths that lead to productive lives and avoid serious behavioral and mental health challenges.
New Foundations/Y.A.L.E. (Young Adult Learning Environment) - A full care community rehabilitation residence (CRR) providing 24/7 support to assist young adults in gaining independent living skills.
YALE offers a skilled-based, psychiatric rehabilitation (Psych Rehab) focused day program on site, three days a week.
Psych Rehab helps individuals in recovery develop skills to be utilized in the community to improve overall wellbeing.
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My Life - A youth leadership group made up of youth between ages 13 and 23. These youth have experience with mental health, substance abuse, juvenile justice, and/or foster care. The group focuses on important issues affecting youth through regular meetings, special events, presentations, and performances. It gives youth the chance to become leaders in their communities. Magellan has partnered with Central Behavioral Health in Montgomery County to offer MY LIFE groups.
Access Services Mobile Crisis is here to help you.
The crisis hotline in Montgomery County is for children, adolescents, and adults.
The Mobile Crisis team can be deployed to homes, schools, or the community.
This service also offers resources to help in the future. The service is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Services provided by Mobile Crisis Support include:
24-hour telephone counseling
Services provided in the youth’s home
Assistance with developing strategies for reducing recurring crisis
Assistance connecting to local community resources
Call 1 (855) 634-HOPE (4673)
Drug and Alcohol
Prevention Services - Offered through an educational classroom setting, featuring evidence based programs for students Kindergarten through 12th grade. These classes focus on interpersonal tools, self-esteem, decision making skills, and social pressures.
Intervention Services - Includes six hours in counseling sessions are offered to all Montgomery County residents with concerns regarding their own drug and alcohol use, or to discuss a family member’s use.
Drug and Alcohol and Mental Health
Student Assistance Program (SAP) - A team of administrators and staff from each school building meet weekly to discuss students struggling academically as well as socially who may appear as high risk for substance use or mental health concerns.
Following a specific protocol, the team members determine resources available within the school system that could assist and support the student or when these efforts are exhausted, will finally refer the student for a formal screening. Provider partner agencies (Merakey) assist SAP teams with screenings, recommendations, and referrals.
Teen Talk Line - A warm line is an alternative to a crisis line that is run by other teens with appropriate adult supervision. It is for youth to talk about things with someone their own age. It is operated by Access Services. Calls are private and you do not have to give your name. If a youth is experiencing a crisis, he or she will be connected to the Crisis Hotline for assistance.
Call 1 (866) 825-5856
Text (215) 703-8411
Family Mentor - This is a group of parents and others interested in children’s mental health issues. It links the systems that serve children. Helps parents and other family members by providing support, information, referrals, and links to other parents and organizations.
Call (267) 850-5677
High Fidelity Family Teams (HiFi) - A national model to bring change to the lives of families with children with complex needs. It is a family-driven planning process that puts families and youth in charge of their own plans, by partnering with them to use their voice, strengths, and supports to build teams that keep children in their homes with fewer professionals and more community support (children and adolescents through 21).
Provider: Child and Family Focus 1 (800) 240-3010
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Local voice of National Alliance on Mental Illness. The mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness through recovery focused support, education, and advocacy. Individuals and families benefit from the opportunity to connect with community resources, participate in programming, and gain understanding of mental illness through community awareness and advocacy events.
NAMI Montgomery County, PA
Call (215) 361-7784
Source: A Guide to Behavioral Health Services for Children, Adolescents, & Families, Montgomery County, PA