The Early Intervention Program of DBHS supports families of children who experience delays in their development. Early Intervention builds upon natural learning occurring from birth to age three.

The Early Intervention Program provides free developmental screenings and evaluations to all children age birth to three years old. Free services and supports can be provided to eligible children age birth to three years old who have a developmental delay or who have a diagnosis with a high probability of a delay. Services and supports are provided in the child’s natural environment.

• Screening, Assessments, and Evaluations
• Services and Support, which can include:
  • Service Coordination
  • Physical Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Speech Therapy
  • Special Instruction
  • Social Work
  • Hearing Services
  • Vision Services
  • Nutrition Services
• Consultation and Education
• Planning

Each individual who enters the County Behavioral Health Program has the option to be assigned an administrative case manager who will assist the individual with identifying and linking to appropriate and necessary services.

An administrative case manager ensures that the individual is informed of all service options, is provided all related information and coordinates with a variety of community services. The administrative case manager will monitor the services for effectiveness and ensure there is benefit to the services as well as serves as an advocate for the individual receiving services.

In Bedford and Somerset Counties, every school has a Student Assistance Program (SAP) that is designed to assist school personnel in identifying issues including alcohol, tobacco, other drugs, and mental health issues which pose a barrier to a student’s success. The primary goal of SAP is to help students overcome these barriers in order that they may achieve, remain in school, and advance.
The core of the program is a professionally trained team, including school staff and liaisons from community mental health and drug and alcohol agencies. SAP team members are trained to identify problems and to make recommendations to assist the student and the parent. The SAP team will assist the parent and student to access services within the community as needed.

The SAP team members do not diagnose, treat or refer to treatment; but they may refer for a screening or an assessment for treatment.

Children and Adolescent Services System Program (CASSP) focuses on the need for interagency collaboration and coordination across systems in delivering multiple services to seriously emotionally disturbed children /youth and their families. In Bedford and Somerset Counties, CASSP provides a coordinated, comprehensive, child-centered approach for all agencies, schools, and family members to develop, collaborate and coordinate services for children/youth. CASSP assists children/youth involved in more than one child-serving system including but not limited to Juvenile Probation, Children and Youth Services, Drug and Alcohol Services, Schools, etc., to gain access to needed services. A CASSP Coordinator facilitates interagency team meetings, as needed with all involved parties, for the purpose of developing multiagency plans of care for individual children and youth with serious emotional disturbance especially when the current system is not adequately meeting their needs. Family involvement is very important and members present are given the opportunity to discuss their concerns, needs, and expectations.

No fee is associated with CASSP. However, there may be some costs involved for services recommended by the Interagency Team.

Referral is required by agency staff, school personnel, family members, or concerned persons.

The Goals of CASSP include:

• Promoting the development of a wide array of services to meet the needs of identified children,
• Integrating multiple services into a well-coordinated system of care to make sure children are receiving the most appropriate services, and
• Increasing the ability of parents and professionals to work together for the benefit of the child.

CASSP Principles

• Services are child centered
• Services are family focused
• Services are community based
• Services are planned in collaboration with all systems involved with the child
• Services are culturally competent
• Services are least restrictive and least intrusive as possible

The Bedford-Somerset DBHS Program is committed to the prevention of mental illness and the promotion of mental health in the communities it serves. It is through consultation and education services that DBHS informs the public, about the nature of mental illness and its management, how to cope with mental illness, about existing resources and how to obtain expert assistance.

The purpose of mental health consultation/education efforts are to:

• Improve awareness and knowledge of mental illness and skills to enhance healthy living by providing training, counseling, and education
• Improve the identification and resolution of mental health problems – Improve recognition of the signs of mental/emotional distress and assure action is taken to intervene before problem patterns are established
• Provide information, skills and assistance to family members dealing with individuals with mental illnesses or emotional problems
• Expand access to mental health services by establishing links between mental health professionals and individuals, organizations, and institutions that provide services for individuals with mental illness
• Provide information and increase awareness and advocacy for individuals with mental illness
• Improve the practice of community-based mental health prevention and intervention services
• Assist professionals in developing mental health knowledge and skills in the detection of emotional disorders and management of problems appropriate to their work.
• Involve other community agencies, groups, and individuals in assessment of the community’s mental health needs, planning and developing resources, integration and coordination of services, and evaluating a broad range of community services.