Somerset County Core Service Agency
7920 Crisfield Hwy., Westover, MD 21871

Lisa B. Hartman, LCSW-C, Director

Phone: (443) 523-1810
Fax: (410) 651-2572

E-mail: shdcore@ezy.net

Mission
The mission of the Somerset County Core Service Agency is to continually improve the provision of mental health services through effective collaboration with consumers, family members, providers, and community leaders. 

We believe our mental health system should assure quality, cost-effective services that meet the needs of our consumers.  We strongly believe in empowerment so that individuals, consumers, family members, and all persons can develop to their fullest potential. 

We believe in partnerships with all stakeholders, which maximize the resources available to us.  These partnerships allow for the sharing of information and resources through mutual planning and development of our system. 

PROGRAMS

• Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
• Shelter Plus Care
• Consumer Support (Pharmacy/Lab services, Transportation, Rent/Start-up, Community & Professional Ed., Consumer Ed. & Training)

GRANT FUNDED SERVICES

• Lower Shore Friends, Inc.
• Jail Mental Health
• General Case Management

FORMS AND APPLICATIONS

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• Authorization to Release Information
• Mental Health Consumer Support - PATH
• Targeted Mental Health Case Management Referral Form
• Tri County Alliance for Homeless Application
• Tri County Verification of Disability

Maryland's Public Mental Health System

Mental Health Services for the Uninsured

APS Health Care

Role of the Core Service Agency (CSA)
CSAs are the local mental health authorities responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring public mental health services at the local level. CSA's exist under the authority of the

Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) and are also agents of the county government which approve their organizational structures. 

The functions of core service agencies are to plan, develop, and manage a full range of treatment and rehabilitation services for persons with serious mental illness in their jurisdiction as stipulated by the Health General Article, 10.10.1201.10.1203, Annotated Code of Maryland.

The CSA must be governmental or not-for-profit in nature.

The CSA must be able to link with other human services agencies to promote comprehensive service for individuals in MHA's priority population who have multiple human needs.

Programs Administered

1) PATH
Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) formula grant was created under the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act in 1990 to help states deal with the needs of people who are homeless and have a serious mental illness. PATH provides flexible community-based mental health, substance abuse, case management, and support services for people with serious mental illnesses who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.  Demographic data reveals: (a) more than half of the clients needing services are between the ages of 35 and 64 (61%); (b) more than half the clients are male; and (c) half the clients (50%) have substance abuse disorders in addition to a serious mental illness.

Somerset County's PATH Program has a limited amount of funds available for housing services only.  Our PATH funds are utilized to assist mental health consumers with security deposits, one-time only rental payments to prevent eviction, minor renovations and/or repairs to a home owned by the consumer, and technical assistance with applying for housing. Even though the Somerset County's Path Program does not provide a variety of direct services to consumers, we do make referrals and provide consumers with information regarding existing community services they might access to address any other need. 

(2) Shelter Plus Care
The Somerset County Shelter Plus Care Housing Program (SPCHP) is a tenant-based rental subsidy program.  The Somerset County Shelter Plus Care Program is targeted to serve individuals 18 years or older and families who are homeless as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), have a serious mental illness, and are being served by the Maryland Community Criminal Justice Treatment Program.  The goal of the program is to break the cycle of recidivism for individuals who end up in the criminal justice system as a result of being homeless.

The SPCHP applicant must be currently in the Detention Center for misdemeanor charges related to their mental disability and/or homeless status.  The SPCHP will also serve individuals who have been recently released (minimum 2-year period) who are on the intensive caseloads of parole and probation or families who are homeless as a result of trauma.

The objectives of the program are:

• To assist participants to obtain/remain in permanent housing.
• To increase skills and/or income of participants.
• To help participants achieve greater self-determination.

(3) Consumer Support
Funds are used to provide for one-time only and limited emergency services and goods.   Eligible services and goods include: 

Pharmacy/Laboratory Services
Expenditures are used primarily to address the needs of consumers that require these medications while a medical assistance eligibility determination is being made.  They may also be used to assist gray zone consumers whose insurance coverage does not provide for medications.  Examples include purchasing a one or two month supply of psychotropic medications for individuals just being released from jail. 

Funds would be used to provide uninsured persons blood tests necessary to monitor psychiatric medications.  Needs which are covered by another payment source or community agency will be excluded and referred to the appropriate resource. 

Transportation
Transportation funds are used to assist consumers and families by ensuring that they are able to access services.  These funds are primarily used for gray zone consumers for who transportation to appointments is a barrier to receiving treatment.  These funds are used on a more limited basis for medical assistance recipients whose transportation needs fall outside of the parameters established by our local medical assistance transportation provider.

Rent/Start-up
These funds include: start-up cost for securing or maintaining independent living, and miscellaneous items which include dental services, eyeglasses and other incidental health expenditures.  The project provides funds to assist individuals with integration and maintenance in the community by supporting security deposits, first months rent and past due rent or mortgage. 

Community and Professional Education
In an effort to provide continual quality services and to retain quality mental health professionals, funds are used to bring quality educational and public awareness programs to the area, so that a wider array of professionals can be reached.

Consumer Education and Training
SCCSA continues to identify pockets of stigma and overall lack of community knowledge regarding mental illness. Funds are used to promote awareness and education and to provide anti stigma activities.  Funds are also used to support tuition and limited travel expenses for families and consumers to attend educational forums and conferences.  These funds make it possible for residents of Somerset County to attend and share in experiences that would otherwise be beyond their reach. 

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Grant Funded Services

(1) Lower Shore Friends, Inc. 
Lower Shore Friends, Inc (LSF) operates a consumer drop-in center located at 207 Maryland Avenue, Suite #5 in Salisbury, Maryland.  Currently, the drop-in center is open a minimum of five days a week and averages 40 consumers using the center per week. The drop-in center gives consumers another choice as to where to receive mental health services such as peer support and advocacy.  In addition to working with consumers at the drop-in center, LSF employs three consumers to teach support groups at Go-Getters, Inc. Groups are held Monday through Wednesday of each week. 

LSF works with the day programs helping to provide the consumers with accurate information intended to keep them abreast of the latest changes in entitlements, changes in their rights, as well as the policies of the mental health system.  LSF also educates and encourages consumers to exercise their right to vote and advocates for affordable and decent housing. 

(2) Jail Mental Health
A full-time mental health counselor and a part-time psychiatrist provide mental health services within the jail setting.  These services include global assessment, individual and group counseling services, didactic groups, crisis intervention, development of an after care plan, information and referral, and medication management. 

(3) General Case Management
For those clients who require mental health case management services, but do not meet medical necessity criteria in order to be reimbursable through APS Health Care.  

Mental health case managers advocate for and link the client to varied services in the community.  An initial and yearly assessment is completed, along with a service plan that is updated every 180 days.  The case manager is required to do at least two face-to-face contacts per month.  

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APS Health Care

APS Health Care is an organization contracted by the Mental Hygiene Administration (MHA) to assist Core Service Agencies in managing the public mental health system.  APS Health Care is a limited liability corporation formed by two Maryland-based managed behavioral healthcare organizations-- Green Spring Health Services, Inc. and CMG Health, INC.  APS Health Care provides support to MHA and the Core Service Agencies by:

• determining whether an individual is part of the public mental health system
• referring the individual to qualified providers of public mental health services
• pre-authorizing non-emergency care
• with MHA and the Core Service Agencies, concurrently managing the care and cost of care in the public mental health system according to established protocols
• conducting utilization review of services to ensure quality, appropriateness, and effectiveness
• collecting data and submitting reports
• processing billing claims and remitting payments
• evaluation of the public mental health system

Link to www.maps-md.com

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Maryland's Public Mental Health System (PMHS)

Maryland has phased in a new way of organizing publicly supported mental health services.

In the past, public mental health services in Maryland were organized around two separate funding sources through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH): Medicaid (Medical Assistance) and Mental Hygiene Administration (MHA) grant funding.  These two funding sources for public mental health services were merged so that they can be managed according to a common set of guidelines and principles.

This change has allowed MHA to create a one-tiered system fo care governed by uniform standards.  This system allows:

• improved access to mental health services
• ensure that mental health services help consumers achieve treatment goals
• ensure that public mental health services are high-quality and cost effective

The MHA has oversight authority of the PMHS, which includes policy development, State-wide planning, resource allocations, and continuous quality improvement responsibilities. 

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PRIMARY ADULT CARE PROGRAM

What is PAC?

Beginning July 2006, there will be a new program in Maryland called the Primary Adult Care Program or PAC for short. PAC offers health services to people 19 and over who make limited amounts of money each year. If you were in the Maryland Pharmacy Assistance Program (MPAP) or the Maryland Primary Care Program, you will be in PAC. PAC will replace these programs.

People on PAC will get:

•  Free visits to a family doctor. Also called a Primary Care Provider or PCP.

•  Free outpatient visits to a counselor or psychiatrist for mental health services.

•  Lower-priced or no-cost prescription drugs. You may need to pay a co-pay for some prescriptions.

PAC does not pay for hospital stays, emergency room visits or specialty care.

Who can apply?

•  You need to be age 19 or over.

•  You can't be on Medicare.

•  You need to meet the income and assets conditions.

For individuals:

If you are an individual applying for PAC, call to see if you meet income guidelines. Your assets can't be more than $4,000. You will find out more about what an asset is when you fill out your application form.

For families:

If you are a household of more than one person, call to see if you meet income guidelines. Your assets can't be more than $6,000. You will learn more about what an asset is when you fill out your application form.

How do I apply?

1. Call toll-free at 1-800-226-2142. Ask for a PAC application form.

2 . Or go online to this Web site www.dhmh.state.md.us/mma/mpap to print off a PAC application.

3. Make sure to put your phone number on your form so someone can contact you if they have questions.

4. Mail in your completed application form to:

PAC Program Application
P.O.Box 386
Baltimore , MD 21203-0386

5. You will get a letter stating if you qualify for PAC. You have to apply each year to be in PAC.