DMH - Dep of Mental Health

The Department of Mental Health, as the State Mental Health Authority, assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities.

Legal Guide of Parents of Youth with mental health .pdf

Who is Eligible?

In order to be eligible for DMH services, the individual must meet the following criteria:

Must have one substantiated qualifying diagnosis
Daily functioning must be directly impacted by the substantiated qualifying diagnosis
Must have a demonstrated need for a DMH service
The needed service is unavailable through other means
DMH must have the available capacity in the needed service

Qualifying Diagnoses Include:

Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
Mood Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Dissociative Disorders
Eating Disorders
Borderline Personality Disorder

Support Services

Community Based Flexible Supports (CBFS) is the cornerstone of the Department's community mental health system. CBFS services provides rehabilitative interventions and supports in partnership with clients and their families to promote and facilitate recovery. Services include interventions and supports that manage psychiatric symptoms in the community, restore or maintain independent living in the community, restore or maintain daily living skills, promote wellness and the management of medical conditions and assist clients to restore or maintain and use their strengths and skills to undertake employment.

How to Apply

Please keep in mind that the chance for the Clinical Service Authorization process to be expedited will depend on the upfront availability of clinical records and the ability of the Clinical Service Authorization Specialist (CSAS) to locate and communicate with the applicant after the application has been submitted, particularly prior to hospital or other placement discharge. The role of the referral source is key to ensure timely assistance of both.

The Ideal Request for Services Packet:

Sufficiently authorized service request (including Legal Guardianship Petition/Verification when appropriate)
Clearly documented current, intended, or last known address if homeless
Current attending psychiatrist's/outpatient provider's/clinical team diagnoses and clinical formulation
Current admission paperwork/psychosocial summary
Any/all psychological, competency, and neuropsychological evaluations
Medical summary including most recent physical
Substance abuse summary
Psychiatric hospital discharge summaries
Completed Authorization for Release of Information forms (ideally including all mental health service providers within the past two years)

The Process

"Request for Services" packet is submitted
Once a "Request for Services" packet is processed the Clinical Service Authorization Unit will notify the applicant
The CSAS may attempt to schedule a Face-to-Face interview
Supporting clinical records are gathered using releases
CSAS reviews to determine authorization
Decisions are made once sufficient information is received or within 90 days.

Contact Information

DMH Clinical Service Authorization Unit:

Central MA Area Office

361 Plantation Street

Worcester, MA

Phone: 774-420-3140

Fax: 774-420-3166

Web: Department of Mental Health - DMH

DMH Information and Referral Line:

1-800-221-0053 (Mon-Fri, 9AM-5PM)

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