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AHCI develops reports on a variety of topics for our stakeholders. We strive to provide reports that make use of data and evidence-based practices that are useful to many different audiences.

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Crisis Services Newsletter (February 2010)

A behavioral health crisis is a significant event or feeling of instability in a person’s life that causes them to feel that they are unable to manage on their own. In an effective behavioral health care system, a variety of crisis services – telephone, mobile, walk-in, and residential – should be available to help people when they experience a crisis. This newsletter describes the role crisis services play within the Allegheny County community and behavioral health care system, with a detailed look at the development and utilization of services offered through the re:solve Crisis Network. The re:solve Crisis Network began providing services in July 2008 and offers a comprehensive array of crisis response services that are immediately available to all residents of Allegheny County, regardless of age, insurance status, or previous involvement with behavioral health services.

Outcomes for People on Allegheny County Community Treatment Teams (Winter 2010)

Community Treatment Teams (CTTs) provide services to people with serious mental illness who often also have co-occurring substance abuse disorders. CTTs in Allegheny County follow the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model, an evidence-based practice. In this report, Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI) summarizes the outcomes for people using CTT services since 2001. The report also summarizes the range of quality improvement activities undertaken by the Allegheny County Office of Behavioral Health, Community Care Behavioral Health, AHCI, and the providers to assure high-quality CTT services.

Detoxification Services (Summer 2009)

For many people with substance abuse problems, their addiction is a chronic illness similar to Type II diabetes, asthma or hypertension. Some individuals with a serious addiction may need detoxification services to help them manage their withdrawal symptoms from drug or alcohol abuse as a starting point in the recovery process. Connecting people to treatment and rehabilitation services after people leave detox is an important goal shared by detox providers.

The goal of this report is to better understand who accesses publicly funded detox services, their access to treatment services before and after detox, and their involvement with the criminal justice system. The data in this report supports national research showing that addiction is often a chronic disorder. People can recover from chronic addiction—however, most will need long term treatment and support. Publicly funded treatment services are an essential safety net to help people move towards recovery.

Supported Employment (Summer 2009)

For many people with mental illness, employment is a key part of their recovery. Research shows that individuals with serious mental illness want to work and can do well in competitive employment positions. Supported Employment is an evidence-based practice which helps people with severe mental illness find, get, and keep competitive employment positions in their communities. This report explains the principles of the Supported Employment model and compares it to other vocational service models. It also provides information about local and state efforts to increase the use of the Supported Employment model and resources for additional information. Please share this report with others in your organization that may benefit from learning more about these topics.

Permanent Supportive Housing Report (July 2009)

For many people with mental illness, stable housing can play a key part in their recovery. Since 2006, the Allegheny County Office of Behavioral Health’s (OBH) Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program has offered new housing opportunities to people with serious mental illness. OBH developed the PSH program for people with serious mental illness living in OBH-funded residential programs. This report explains the principles of permanent supportive housing and the progress made to help people find and keep permanent supportive housing. The report also provides information on program costs compared to residential and inpatient settings, program sustainability, and an update on the development of new housing units. Please share this report with others in your organization that may benefit from learning more about these topics.

Trauma-informed Care Report (Spring 2009)

Many children and adults receiving mental health or substance abuse services have experienced trauma in their lives. Better addressing trauma within the behavioral health system is a priority at the local, state and national levels. This report includes information on trauma and its impact, how providers can develop trauma-informed services, and resources about trauma. Personal stories of several individuals who have recovered from trauma are also featured.

MRSAP Discharge Report (January 2009)

Mayview State Hospital closed on December 29, 2008. Over the last several years, the five counties in the Mayview service area, Mayview State Hospital, and the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) have developed a recovery-oriented community support planning (CSP) process for people being discharged. These efforts have been coordinated by Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI). This report describes the demographics, and preliminary data related to housing stability, use of services and supports, and time spent living in the community, of the people who were discharged as part of the hospital closure.

Working Toward Wellness: Addressing the physical health of people with serious mental illness (November 2008)

One of the most serious issues facing the behavioral health field is addressing the burden of co-occurring chronic medical conditions for people with mental illness and/or substance abuse. Physical health issues hinder recovery and shorten lives; on average, people with serious mental illness die 25 years earlier than the general population. In this report, Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI) provides an overview of the risk factors common for people with serious mental illness and a description of the barriers faced by providers in delivering coordinated care. The report also includes ways people with serious mental illness, providers, and policy makes can begin to make an impact.

Housing As Home Newsletter (September 2008)

One of the most urgent needs of people with serious mental illness is quality, affordable, and permanent housing. In 2005, the Allegheny County Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) developed the “Housing as Home” permanent supportive housing strategic plan to help address this need. The goal of the plan is to use over $5 million to help 220-240 people currently living in a state hospital or OBH-funded residential program to move into permanent supportive housing (PSH) within three to five years. In this newsletter, Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI) summarizes the plan components and the progress made by Transitional Services, Inc. (TSI) in implementing the plan to date. The report also includes frequently asked questions and features descriptions of two people living in permanent supportive housing.

Using Motivational Interviewing In Substance Abuse Treatment (June 2008)

Figuring out how to motivate people to reduce or stop their substance abuse is an enormous challenge for clinicians. Research has found motivational interviewing (MI) to be a highly effective counseling method for enhancing a person’s internal motivation for behavior change. Through helping people explore and resolve their ambivalence around change, people can ultimately commit to changing their substance use patterns. In the enclosed report, Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI) summarizes the principles of MI with the help of several local experts and practitioners. The report also includes resources for clinicians and agencies for getting started with MI.

Family Focused Solution Based Services (January 2008)

Families involved in the Children, Youth and Families (CYF) and/or Juvenile Probation Office (JPO) systems often have complex service needs, including mental health treatment needs. In 2005, Family Focused Solution Based Services (FFSBS) were introduced into the Allegheny County HealthChoices system to meet the complex needs of these families. FFSBS staff can provide one-on-one mental health and family therapy, crisis stabilization, and case management services. However, FFSBS staff can also help parents and children improve communication skills, learn ways to resolve conflict, deal with behavioral challenges, and establish appropriate parent / child roles and boundaries. There are several features of FFSBS that make it unique within the Allegheny County HealthChoices system. AHCI’s report on Family Focused Solution Based Services describes the unique features of this service and illustrates how it has helped a variety of families in Allegheny County.

Substance Abuse Treatment Services (June 2007)

Substance abuse is a serious health and social problem in the United States. It is costly —for individuals and society—causing health problems, deaths, loss of productivity, underemployment, crime, and family instability. However, while people with severe substance abuse may need treatment and support over a long period of time and may have several relapses, recovery is possible. The attached report, Substance Abuse Treatment Services, provides an overview of local trends in substance use, treatment services available in the HealthChoices program, and service use patterns for adults and adolescents in the HealthChoices program. This report is the first in an occasional series on substance abuse treatment.

Mayview Regional Service Area Plan (MRSAP) Summary Report: Phase 2 Consumer and Family Assessment Results (May 2007)

The five counties in the Mayview service area, Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, Lawrence and Washington, are working together in partnership with the Department of Public Welfare to strengthen their community behavioral health systems. To ensure consumers discharged from Mayview State Hospital receive the services and supports they want and need, a consumer-focused assessment and community support plan (CSP) process has been developed. Consumer and Family Satisfaction Teams (CFSTs, or CART in Allegheny County) conduct interviews with consumers in the state hospital to help determine what each person thinks he or she will need and want upon discharge. CFSTs also interview family members. These assessments are the basis for developing a community support plan to help individuals transition from Mayview to the community. Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI) recently completed the enclosed report summarizing the peer and family assessment responses for the 52 Mayview residents selected to participate in Phase 2 of this project. For more information on the Mayview project, please visit www.mayview-sap.org.

Mobile Medication Services (May 2007)

Mobile Medication Services were developed to address the needs of individuals whose difficulties taking psychiatric medications placed them at risk for frequent inpatient admissions or placement into restrictive living arrangements. Introduced into the Allegheny County HealthChoices program in late 2005, Mobile Medication Services are designed to provide consumers with community-based, team-delivered medication administration and monitoring services. Most importantly, Mobile Medication Services are designed to provide consumers with the opportunity to develop a variety of medication management skills and thereby facilitate their journeys toward recovery. This short report provides an overview of Mobile Medication Services, an analysis of short-term consumer outcomes, and several brief case studies.

Housing As Home Newsletter (October 2006)

The Allegheny County Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), in conjunction with consumers, family members, providers, and housing advocates, has created a Permanent Supportive Housing Strategic Plan. The Plan provides a blueprint for developing 220-240 units of permanent supportive housing within three to five years for people with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse. We recently completed the attached second edition of the Housing as Home newsletter. It provides an update on our progress implementing the plan, including information on the agencies that are leading this effort.

Peer Support: Consumers Helping Consumers (August 2006)

People with mental illness have supported each other in their recovery journeys for many years. Because consumers share common experiences, they have a unique opportunity to learn from, teach, and support each other. This newsletter, Peer Support: Consumers Helping Consumers, provides an overview of peer support. The report describes peer support and research supporting the benefits of peer support. It also outlines Pennsylvania’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services’ (OMHSAS) plan for implementing state-wide peer support services, paid for with Medicaid funds, in the fall of 2006. Most importantly, AHCI staff visited many programs and interviewed consumers who have benefited from peer support and consumers who work as peer staff. Their personal stories illustrate the value and importance of peer support to consumers, providers, and to the mental health system as a whole.

BHRS Brief Treatment Report (April 2006)

Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services (BHRS) provide comprehensive treatment to children and adolescents diagnosed with a serious emotional or behavioral disorder. To address the treatment needs of children who would benefit from a less intensive form of BHRS treatment, Allegheny County BHRS providers and Community Care developed and implemented a BHRS “brief” treatment model. In addition to describing how the resulting BHRS Brief Treatment model differs from traditional BHRS, this report presents an overview of the demographic characteristics, diagnostic characteristics, and HealthChoices service utilization patterns of children who received BHRS Brief Treatment during the first 18 months of the model’s implementation (January 1, 2004 – June 30, 2005).

Full Report (20 pages) Newsletter Version (2 pages)

Housing Plan Newsletter (November 2005)

The Allegheny County Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), in conjunction with consumers, family members, providers, and housing advocates, has created a Permanent Supportive Housing Strategic Plan. The Plan provides a blueprint for developing 220-240 units of permanent supportive housing within two to three years for people with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse. The Housing as Home newsletter summarizes the OBH Strategic Plan. It provides a definition of permanent supportive housing, explains the various strategies/components outlined in the OBH Plan, and discusses the results of the housing preferences survey that were used in the development of the Plan.

Housing Preferences Survey Report (November 2005)

The Allegheny County Office of Behavioral Health and Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI) teamed with the Consumer Action & Response Team (CART) in 2005 to conduct a survey of the housing needs and preferences of consumers in Allegheny County. The Housing Preferences Survey Report summarizes the results of this survey and includes findings related to preferences on housing type, housing location, and community supports. The report features survey input from consumers in Mayview State Hospital, consumers living in non-hospital residential programs, and residential program staff. Results of the survey were used to inform the development of the Allegheny County Permanent Supportive Housing Strategic Plan.

Community Treatment Teams in Allegheny County: Service Use and Outcomes (October 2005)

Community Treatment Teams (CTTs) provide community-based, comprehensive, and intensive mental health and addiction treatment to persons with serious and persistent mental illnesses in Allegheny County. This report includes all consumers enrolled on the four Allegheny County Community Treatment Teams from the inception of the teams through March of 2005. This report covers three areas: CTT consumer characteristics, services used by CTT consumers and consumer outcomes over time. In addition to data analysis, the report includes input from the teams.

Full Report (43 pages) Newsletter Version (6 pages)

Does Race Matter? Access and Service Use for Children by Race During 2002

This series of reports is a follow-up to AHCI's November 2003 report on factors associated with accessing services. The reports examine behavioral health service access and treatment patterns by race for children and youth eligible for Medicaid during 2002 in Allegheny County. The Surgeon General's reports on mental health (1999 and 2001) provide the context for these reports. The analysis found racial differences in access across gender groups, age groups, service types, diagnostic patterns, and the amount of service used. Racial disparities persisted for children with histories of involvement with child welfare and juvenile justice. The series includes three reports:

Does Race Matter? Access and Service Use for Children by Race During 2002: This report covers the entire HealthChoices population and also includes appendices covering access and service use for specific diagnostic groups.

Supplemental Report on Children with Histories of Involvement with Social Services: This report provides an in-depth look at access and service use for children with histories of involvement with social services (child welfare, juvenile justice, or substitute care).

Does Race Matter? A Summary of AHCI Reports: This newsletter provides a summary of the two full reports above. The newsletter also includes an article on access and service use during 2003 for comparison with earlier findings. In August 2006, some updates were made to the language in the reports on children and youth with histories of involvement with social services, specifically the Office of Children, Youth and Families (CYF) and the Juvenile Probation Office (JPO). This memo summarizes these clarifications and also provides an update on enhanced data now available from CYF and JPO.

Allegheny County HealthChoices Program: Five Year Summary (March 2004)

The year 2003 marked the five-year anniversary of the HealthChoices program in Allegheny County. When the program began, stakeholders had great hopes for better access to services, quality of care, and the use of less restrictive and more community-based treatment. This five-year milestone provides an important opportunity to review how enrollment and service use have evolved over time to meet these goals. This report provides a broad overview of HealthChoices in Allegheny County since the program began in 1999. Enrollment and utilization data highlight both the changes and the stability within the system.

Community Treatment Teams: Implementation in Allegheny County Since 2002 (March 2004)

This report examines the four Community Treatment Teams in Allegheny County during the early implementation stage through the first and second quarters of 2003. The report tracks the evolution of the teams and changes in consumer outcomes over time, specifically focusing on 1) the composition of the teams, including age, gender, and race of consumer participants, 2) changes in service utilization of CTT and non-CTT services, including hospitalizations, and 3) stability and community integration, including living arrangements, employment, educational status, and utilization of natural support systems.

Demographic and Social Services Factors Associated with Behavioral Health Claims in Children and Youth 0 - 20 Years of Age (November 2003)

AHCI recently completed a study examining disparities in accessing behavioral health care for children and youth 0 - 20 years of age. AHCI examined multiple factors to determine the likelihood of different groups accessing care, including race, gender, age, HealthChoices eligibility, involvement with the Office of Children, Youth and Families, involvement with the juvenile justice system, and involvement with substitute care. The findings indicate that significant disparities exist in terms of who accessed behavioral health care within one year time period, 2001 or 2002. Caucasians, males, school-aged children (6 - 17 years), and children involved with one of the social services were all more likely to access the system. Notably, African-Americans, even when they are involved in the social service system, are still less likely to access behavioral healthcare than Caucasians.

Medicaid Benchmarking - A Comparative Report (June 2003)

In June 2002, the Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a draft report titled "Medicaid Managed Behavioral Health Care Benchmarking Project". The purpose of the study was to systematically review and compare data submitted by multiple Medicaid behavioral health programs, identify ways to improve the quality and consistency of data, and determine trends in the ways managed care program performance is measured. Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI) developed a report that looks at how the Allegheny HealthChoices program compares to the same industry standard measures and data reported by other Medicaid behavioral health programs. Measures include penetration rates, average length of stay, readmissions, and follow-up after discharge from inpatient services.

The Implementation of Community Treatment Teams in Allegheny County (January 2003)

Community Treatment Teams (CTTs) are a service-delivery model that provides comprehensive, locally based treatment to people with serious and persistent mental illnesses. Unlike other community-based programs that provide linkage to service, CTTs provide highly individualized services directly to consumers. This report presents the principles, structure, and function of the CTT model and describes the start up period for the teams in Allegheny County. An aggregate analysis of members enrolled in a CTT is presented in terms of their demographic characteristics. The member's HealthChoices in-plan and County base-side service utilization during the pre-implementation period are compared to their post-implementation use of services. The findings are consistent with teams in the developmental process. AHCI's recommendations focus on areas for improvement that should occur over time as the teams are more established in the community and members develop trust with the team.

Recidivism: A Longitudinal Study of the Original Cohort (October 2002)

This is the third consecutive study of utilization patterns of HealthChoices members who were identified in the initial analysis as having one or more inpatient mental health admissions. AHCI has followed this cohort over time in an attempt to understand factors that may influence recidivism and identify the systematic impact of treatment and outreach. In addition to a comparison of service utilization, the consumer's perspective of their historical and current status was compared to their case manager's perspective.

Addendum to the Longitudinal Recidivism Report (January 2002)

As a result of the findings from the Recidivism Report published August 2001, AHCI, Community Care and Allegheny County attempted to identify possible contributing factors to high recidivism rates. To accomplish this, Community Care distributed surveys to Intensive Case Managers (ICMs) and Resource Coordinators (RCs) to assess their understanding consumers’ support systems, clinical treatment, functional status, and living situation. The following is a summary of the ICM's or RC's survey data. A similar survey is being distributed to consumers to gain their perspective.

Recidivism: A Longitudinal Study of the Original Cohort (August 2001)

Recidivism refers to consumers that are readmitted within 30 days of discharge for inpatient mental health services. It is a vital concern of stakeholders because of the clinical and financial implications. In January 2001, AHCI completed an initial report that compared consumers who were admitted frequently for inpatient and intensive non-hospital services with consumers who had one or two admissions. This second report is part of a longitudinal study of the same group of people from the original study from July 2, 2000 through March 2001 to determine any changes in readmissions, demographics, and other utilization data. This report illustrates those findings. Of particular note are changes/trends in inpatient utilization, average lengths of stay, utilization of out patient services, and issues related to housing and life stressors.

Dual Diagnosis Report (August 2001)

The needs of people with dual diagnosis, a co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorder, far exceed a blend of some mental health and substance abuse services. This report shows that individuals with a dual diagnosis access services differently that people with only a mental illness or substance abuse diagnosis. Related issues such as identification, engagement, a comprehensive treatment plan, and reporting and tracking abilities are address in the report.

Involuntary Admission of HealthChoices Members (March 2001)

Most admissions for mental health services occur on a voluntary basis, however, in Allegheny County the rate of involuntary admission exceeds the state average. The focus of this report is to evaluate HealthChoices consumers and the utilization patterns of individuals that are involuntarily admitted. The analysis period was based on admission authorized and claims paid for services during the second quarter of 2000.

Recidivism (January 2001)

Recidivism refers to consumers that are readmitted within 30 days of discharge for impatient mental health services. It is a vital concern of stakeholders because of the clinical and financial implications. This report examines some of the issues surrounding recidivism by analyzing and characterizing three population groups. The three groups are stratified by the frequency at which persons are admitted during the 12-month time period of July 1, 1999 to June 30, 2000.

Consumers with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (October 2000)

This report focuses on consumers with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI) from January 1, 1999 through June 30, 2000. AHCI analyzed the service mix consumers received prior to and after HealthChoices mandatory enrollment to determine if/how the HealthChoices program had effected service delivery patterns.

Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services for Children and Adolescents (BHRSCA) (August 2000)

This report focuses on children and adolescents who received behavioral health rehabilitation services through the HealthChoices program during the first and second quarters of 2000. Services to children with behavioral health needs continue to be a concern of stakeholders, and AHCI chose to study this group in relation to BHRSCA services to more fully examine what this population looks like in terms of demographic characteristics, service utilization, involuntary commitments, recidivism, and average length of stay.

High Cost Users of Services (July 2000)

This report focuses on consumers for whom the aggregated total HealthChoices claims from January 1, 1999 through May 31, 2000 exceeds $25,000. AHCI analyzed this group by demographic characteristics and service utilization to determine if there were any trends and/or opportunities for improving service delivery.

Outcomes for People on Allegheny County Community Treatment Teams (Winter 2010)

Community Treatment Teams: Implementation in Allegheny County Since 2002 (March 2004)

The Implementation of Community Treatment Teams in Allegheny County (January 2003)

Outcomes for People on Allegheny County Community Treatment Teams (Winter 2010)

Detoxification Services (Summer 2009)

Supported Employment (Summer 2009)

Trauma-informed Care Report (Spring 2009)

Working Toward Wellness: Addressing the physical health of people with serious mental illness (November 2008)

Housing As Home Newsletter (September 2008)

Using Motivational Interviewing In Substance Abuse Treatment (June 2008)

Figuring out how to motivate people to reduce or stop their substance abuse is an enormous challenge for clinicians. Research has found motivational interviewing (MI) to be a highly effective counseling method for enhancing a person’s internal motivation for behavior change. Through helping people explore and resolve their ambivalence around change, people can ultimately commit to changing their substance use patterns. In the enclosed report, Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI) summarizes the principles of MI with the help of several local experts and practitioners. The report also includes resources for clinicians and agencies for getting started with MI.

Family Focused Solution Based Services (January 2008)

Families involved in the Children, Youth and Families (CYF) and/or Juvenile Probation Office (JPO) systems often have complex service needs, including mental health treatment needs. In 2005, Family Focused Solution Based Services (FFSBS) were introduced into the Allegheny County HealthChoices system to meet the complex needs of these families. FFSBS staff can provide one-on-one mental health and family therapy, crisis stabilization, and case management services. However, FFSBS staff can also help parents and children improve communication skills, learn ways to resolve conflict, deal with behavioral challenges, and establish appropriate parent / child roles and boundaries. There are several features of FFSBS that make it unique within the Allegheny County HealthChoices system. AHCI’s report on Family Focused Solution Based Services describes the unique features of this service and illustrates how it has helped a variety of families in Allegheny County.

Substance Abuse Treatment Services (June 2007)

Substance abuse is a serious health and social problem in the United States. It is costly —for individuals and society—causing health problems, deaths, loss of productivity, underemployment, crime, and family instability. However, while people with severe substance abuse may need treatment and support over a long period of time and may have several relapses, recovery is possible. The attached report, Substance Abuse Treatment Services, provides an overview of local trends in substance use, treatment services available in the HealthChoices program, and service use patterns for adults and adolescents in the HealthChoices program. This report is the first in an occasional series on substance abuse treatment.

Mobile Medication Services (May 2007)

Mobile Medication Services were developed to address the needs of individuals whose difficulties taking psychiatric medications placed them at risk for frequent inpatient admissions or placement into restrictive living arrangements. Introduced into the Allegheny County HealthChoices program in late 2005, Mobile Medication Services are designed to provide consumers with community-based, team-delivered medication administration and monitoring services. Most importantly, Mobile Medication Services are designed to provide consumers with the opportunity to develop a variety of medication management skills and thereby facilitate their journeys toward recovery. This short report provides an overview of Mobile Medication Services, an analysis of short-term consumer outcomes, and several brief case studies.

Housing As Home Newsletter (October 2006)

Peer Support: Consumers Helping Consumers (August 2006)

Housing Plan Newsletter (November 2005)

The Allegheny County Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), in conjunction with consumers, family members, providers, and housing advocates, has created a Permanent Supportive Housing Strategic Plan. The Plan provides a blueprint for developing 220-240 units of permanent supportive housing within two to three years for people with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse. The Housing as Home newsletter summarizes the OBH Strategic Plan. It provides a definition of permanent supportive housing, explains the various strategies/components outlined in the OBH Plan, and discusses the results of the housing preferences survey that were used in the development of the Plan.

Housing Preferences Survey Report (November 2005)

Community Treatment Teams in Allegheny County: Service Use and Outcomes (October 2005)

Full Report (43 pages) Newsletter Version (6 pages)

Allegheny County HealthChoices Program: Five Year Summary (March 2004)

Community Treatment Teams: Implementation in Allegheny County Since 2002 (March 2004)

Medicaid Benchmarking - A Comparative Report (June 2003)

The Implementation of Community Treatment Teams in Allegheny County (January 2003)

Recidivism: A Longitudinal Study of the Original Cohort (October 2002)

Addendum to the Longitudinal Recidivism Report (January 2002)

Recidivism: A Longitudinal Study of the Original Cohort (August 2001)

Dual Diagnosis Report (August 2001)

Involuntary Admission of HealthChoices Members (March 2001)

Recidivism (January 2001)

Consumers with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (October 2000)

High Cost Users of Services (July 2000)

Trauma-informed Care Report (Spring 2009)

Family Focused Solution Based Services (January 2008)

Families involved in the Children, Youth and Families (CYF) and/or Juvenile Probation Office (JPO) systems often have complex service needs, including mental health treatment needs. In 2005, Family Focused Solution Based Services (FFSBS) were introduced into the Allegheny County HealthChoices system to meet the complex needs of these families. FFSBS staff can provide one-on-one mental health and family therapy, crisis stabilization, and case management services. However, FFSBS staff can also help parents and children improve communication skills, learn ways to resolve conflict, deal with behavioral challenges, and establish appropriate parent / child roles and boundaries. There are several features of FFSBS that make it unique within the Allegheny County HealthChoices system. AHCI’s report on Family Focused Solution Based Services describes the unique features of this service and illustrates how it has helped a variety of families in Allegheny County.

BHRS Brief Treatment Report (April 2006)

Full Report (20 pages) Newsletter Version (2 pages)

Does Race Matter? Access and Service Use for Children by Race During 2002

Allegheny County HealthChoices Program: Five Year Summary (March 2004)

Demographic and Social Services Factors Associated with Behavioral Health Claims in Children and Youth 0 - 20 Years of Age (November 2003)

Medicaid Benchmarking - A Comparative Report (June 2003)

Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services for Children and Adolescents (BHRSCA) (August 2000)

Supported Employment (Summer 2009)

MRSAP Discharge Report (January 2009)

Mayview Regional Service Area Plan (MRSAP) Summary Report: Phase 2 Consumer and Family Assessment Results (May 2007)

The five counties in the Mayview service area, Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, Lawrence and Washington, are working together in partnership with the Department of Public Welfare to strengthen their community behavioral health systems. To ensure consumers discharged from Mayview State Hospital receive the services and supports they want and need, a consumer-focused assessment and community support plan (CSP) process has been developed. Consumer and Family Satisfaction Teams (CFSTs, or CART in Allegheny County) conduct interviews with consumers in the state hospital to help determine what each person thinks he or she will need and want upon discharge. CFSTs also interview family members. These assessments are the basis for developing a community support plan to help individuals transition from Mayview to the community. Allegheny HealthChoices, Inc. (AHCI) recently completed the enclosed report summarizing the peer and family assessment responses for the 52 Mayview residents selected to participate in Phase 2 of this project. For more information on the Mayview project, please visit www.mayview-sap.org.

Permanent Supportive Housing Report (July 2009)

Housing As Home Newsletter (September 2008)

Housing As Home Newsletter (October 2006)

Housing Plan Newsletter (November 2005)

The Allegheny County Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), in conjunction with consumers, family members, providers, and housing advocates, has created a Permanent Supportive Housing Strategic Plan. The Plan provides a blueprint for developing 220-240 units of permanent supportive housing within two to three years for people with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse. The Housing as Home newsletter summarizes the OBH Strategic Plan. It provides a definition of permanent supportive housing, explains the various strategies/components outlined in the OBH Plan, and discusses the results of the housing preferences survey that were used in the development of the Plan.

Housing Preferences Survey Report (November 2005)

Crisis Services Newsletter (February 2010)

Outcomes for People on Allegheny County Community Treatment Teams (Winter 2010)

Family Focused Solution Based Services (January 2008)

Families involved in the Children, Youth and Families (CYF) and/or Juvenile Probation Office (JPO) systems often have complex service needs, including mental health treatment needs. In 2005, Family Focused Solution Based Services (FFSBS) were introduced into the Allegheny County HealthChoices system to meet the complex needs of these families. FFSBS staff can provide one-on-one mental health and family therapy, crisis stabilization, and case management services. However, FFSBS staff can also help parents and children improve communication skills, learn ways to resolve conflict, deal with behavioral challenges, and establish appropriate parent / child roles and boundaries. There are several features of FFSBS that make it unique within the Allegheny County HealthChoices system. AHCI’s report on Family Focused Solution Based Services describes the unique features of this service and illustrates how it has helped a variety of families in Allegheny County.

Substance Abuse Treatment Services (June 2007)

Substance abuse is a serious health and social problem in the United States. It is costly —for individuals and society—causing health problems, deaths, loss of productivity, underemployment, crime, and family instability. However, while people with severe substance abuse may need treatment and support over a long period of time and may have several relapses, recovery is possible. The attached report, Substance Abuse Treatment Services, provides an overview of local trends in substance use, treatment services available in the HealthChoices program, and service use patterns for adults and adolescents in the HealthChoices program. This report is the first in an occasional series on substance abuse treatment.

Mobile Medication Services (May 2007)

Mobile Medication Services were developed to address the needs of individuals whose difficulties taking psychiatric medications placed them at risk for frequent inpatient admissions or placement into restrictive living arrangements. Introduced into the Allegheny County HealthChoices program in late 2005, Mobile Medication Services are designed to provide consumers with community-based, team-delivered medication administration and monitoring services. Most importantly, Mobile Medication Services are designed to provide consumers with the opportunity to develop a variety of medication management skills and thereby facilitate their journeys toward recovery. This short report provides an overview of Mobile Medication Services, an analysis of short-term consumer outcomes, and several brief case studies.

BHRS Brief Treatment Report (April 2006)

Full Report (20 pages) Newsletter Version (2 pages)

Community Treatment Teams in Allegheny County: Service Use and Outcomes (October 2005)

Full Report (43 pages) Newsletter Version (6 pages)

Does Race Matter? Access and Service Use for Children by Race During 2002

Allegheny County HealthChoices Program: Five Year Summary (March 2004)

Community Treatment Teams: Implementation in Allegheny County Since 2002 (March 2004)

Demographic and Social Services Factors Associated with Behavioral Health Claims in Children and Youth 0 - 20 Years of Age (November 2003)

Medicaid Benchmarking - A Comparative Report (June 2003)

The Implementation of Community Treatment Teams in Allegheny County (January 2003)

Recidivism: A Longitudinal Study of the Original Cohort (October 2002)

Addendum to the Longitudinal Recidivism Report (January 2002)

Recidivism: A Longitudinal Study of the Original Cohort (August 2001)

Dual Diagnosis Report (August 2001)

Involuntary Admission of HealthChoices Members (March 2001)

Recidivism (January 2001)

Consumers with Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (October 2000)

Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services for Children and Adolescents (BHRSCA) (August 2000)

High Cost Users of Services (July 2000)

AHCI is involved in a number of different special projects. Select a topic below to learn more information.

Community Support Plan (CSP) Discharge Planning – A recovery-oriented, externally and independently facilitated planning process focused on the goals of the consumers.
Service Development - including both county-specific as well as regional service development.
Financial Management.
IT Support, including the development of customized web applications for the MRSAP discharge activities, as well as incident tracking and reporting.

Links:

Acute Community Support Plan Project
AHCI was contracted by Allegheny County to develop and implement a community support plan (CSP) process for people with highly complex needs in restrictive community based settings (e.g. inpatient psychiatric hospitals, extended acute care units). The acute CSP process is facilitated by an experienced AHCI clinician, with the goal of developing a thorough plan focused on the goals of each individual consumer and in collaboration with community providers and natural supports.

Beaver County Permanent Supportive Housing
AHCI is assisting Beaver County with the implementation of its permanent supportive housing plan. The plan takes a collaborative approach, with AHCI staff coordinating eligibility reviews, working with the local housing authority on apartment inspections and voucher applications, recruiting landlords for participation, assisting people in their search for affordable units in the community, collaborating with treatment teams on the development of supports and services, helping people move into their apartments, and tracking and reporting on program outcomes.

Allegheny County Permanent Supportive Housing
AHCI has assisted Allegheny County in the development and implementation of the “Housing as Home” Allegheny County Permanent Supportive Housing Strategic Plan. AHCI’s responsibilities have included facilitating the needs assessment, coordinating technical assistance, managing the request for proposal process and the stakeholder proposal review. AHCI continues to monitor and coordinate implementation activities and track and report on outcomes of the Housing as Home Plan.

Customized Web Applications (state hospital downsizing/closure)
AHCI-developed applications are supporting two regional area initiatives in closing and/or reducing the capacity of state-operated mental hospitals and the transition of care to community-based behavioral health systems.

In the closing of Mayview State Hospital, AHCI-developed online, web-based systems to help facilitate the process of assessing consumers’ needs and developing community support plans (CSPs). Post-discharge, this application is used to track the status of consumers in the community. Through integration with warehoused claims data, comprehensive reporting is possible linking outcomes and service provision.

The application also provides for maintenance and notification of critical incident/early warning data. The application served a similar function in the reduction of capacity at Torrance State Hospital and its service region.

This application has supported 15 Pennsylvania counties in the reduction of state-provided services and the transition to a community-based model.

CTT Tracking Application
AHCI has developed an online, web-based application to track and report consumer-level and aggregate activity for Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)/Community Treatment Teams (CTT). Data is captured on various domains including housing, employment, hospitalization and criminal justice as well as the use of crisis services and natural supports. Reporting is available in detail or in summary form by domain. This application is currently in use by four Pennsylvania counties.

Data Warehouse – Allegheny County HealthChoices Program
AHCI has developed a comprehensive data warehousing solution to meet statutory, monitoring and oversight needs for the HealthChoices (Medicaid managed care) program in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

The warehouse is built using open technology and best-of-breed database, ETL, OLAP and reporting tools. Data sources include the County’s managed care contractor, the County’s behavioral health service collection system, the County’s children, youth and family and juvenile justice systems, as well as state mental hospital data.

An integrated view of the behavioral health system is provided through the use of sophisticated OLAP (online analytical processing) and reporting tools.

Beaver County – Data Integration
Supporting various clinical consulting initiatives, service data from the County’s HealthChoices program has been integrated with County-funded service data to allow for a comprehensive view of their behavioral health system. Additional data sources include critical incident/early warning data as well as historical state mental hospital data from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. Analysis is enabled through the use of OLAP (online analytical processing) and traditional reporting tools.

Data Warehouse – Fayette County MH/MR Program
AHCI has deployed its data warehousing solution to support the managed care Medicaid (HealthChoices) program in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. This warehouse contains data from the County’s managed care contractor in such areas as membership, eligibility, authorizations and paid claims.

Built on an open structure, off-the-shelf reporting tools are used to provide convenient access to this data. AHCI has also provided consulting to Fayette County’s MH/MR program in such areas as IT staffing and infrastructure design.

Data Warehouse – Chester County
AHCI has provided its data warehousing solution to support the managed care Medicaid (HealthChoices) program in Chester County, Pennsylvania. This warehouse contains data from the County’s managed care contractor in such areas as membership, eligibility, authorizations and paid claims.

Built on an open structure, off-the-shelf reporting and OLAP (online analytical processing) tools are used to provide convenient access to data.

Allegheny County CTT Consultation
AHCI is engaged in a long-term technical assistance partnership with the providers of CTT services in Allegheny County. Our services include provider trainings, individualized technical assistance on implementing the ACT model and other evidence-based practices, and outcomes and fidelity monitoring.

Links:
Learn more by visiting our Consultation Services or reading our Reports.

Acute Community Support Plan Project
AHCI was contracted by Allegheny County to develop and implement a community support plan (CSP) process for people with highly complex needs in restrictive community based settings (e.g. inpatient psychiatric hospitals, extended acute care units). The acute CSP process is facilitated by an experienced AHCI clinician, with the goal of developing a thorough plan focused on the goals of each individual consumer and in collaboration with community providers and natural supports.

CTT Tracking Application
AHCI has developed an online, web-based application to track and report consumer-level and aggregate activity for Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)/Community Treatment Teams (CTT). Data is captured on various domains including housing, employment, hospitalization and criminal justice as well as the use of crisis services and natural supports. Reporting is available in detail or in summary form by domain. This application is currently in use by four Pennsylvania counties.

Mayview Regional Service Area Plan
AHCI was contracted by five counties in southwestern PA to manage the downsizing and eventual closure of Mayview State Hospital. This project included the coordination of the following activities:

Community Support Plan (CSP) Discharge Planning – A recovery-oriented, externally and independently facilitated planning process focused on the goals of the consumers.
Service Development - including both county-specific as well as regional service development.
Financial Management.
IT Support, including the development of customized web applications for the MRSAP discharge activities, as well as incident tracking and reporting.

Links:

Customized Web Applications (state hospital downsizing/closure)
AHCI-developed applications are supporting two regional area initiatives in closing and/or reducing the capacity of state-operated mental hospitals and the transition of care to community-based behavioral health systems.

In the closing of Mayview State Hospital, AHCI-developed online, web-based systems to help facilitate the process of assessing consumers’ needs and developing community support plans (CSPs). Post-discharge, this application is used to track the status of consumers in the community. Through integration with warehoused claims data, comprehensive reporting is possible linking outcomes and service provision.

The application also provides for maintenance and notification of critical incident/early warning data. The application served a similar function in the reduction of capacity at Torrance State Hospital and its service region.

This application has supported 15 Pennsylvania counties in the reduction of state-provided services and the transition to a community-based model.

Beaver County Permanent Supportive Housing
AHCI is assisting Beaver County with the implementation of its permanent supportive housing plan. The plan takes a collaborative approach, with AHCI staff coordinating eligibility reviews, working with the local housing authority on apartment inspections and voucher applications, recruiting landlords for participation, assisting people in their search for affordable units in the community, collaborating with treatment teams on the development of supports and services, helping people move into their apartments, and tracking and reporting on program outcomes.

Allegheny County Permanent Supportive Housing
AHCI has assisted Allegheny County in the development and implementation of the “Housing as Home” Allegheny County Permanent Supportive Housing Strategic Plan. AHCI’s responsibilities have included facilitating the needs assessment, coordinating technical assistance, managing the request for proposal process and the stakeholder proposal review. AHCI continues to monitor and coordinate implementation activities and track and report on outcomes of the Housing as Home Plan.

Washington County
The Washington County Mental Health/ Mental Retardation (MH/MR) Program is undertaking a system review and transformation initiative. This review will include an assessment of the current service systems for adult and children’s mental health, as well as for mental retardation. It will also involve analyzing data from current data systems and a detailed fiscal review, including cost of services and contracting and reporting processes.

This review is designed to be all encompassing and will offer several opportunities for stakeholders to provide input, including users of services and their families. The provider community will also have an important role in assisting the county in identifying strengths and areas of improvement.

We look forward to partnering with the various stakeholders in Washington County as we work to further improve the quality of programs to meet the changing needs of those receiving services.

Data Warehouse – Allegheny County HealthChoices Program
AHCI has developed a comprehensive data warehousing solution to meet statutory, monitoring and oversight needs for the HealthChoices (Medicaid managed care) program in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

The warehouse is built using open technology and best-of-breed database, ETL, OLAP and reporting tools. Data sources include the County’s managed care contractor, the County’s behavioral health service collection system, the County’s children, youth and family and juvenile justice systems, as well as state mental hospital data.

An integrated view of the behavioral health system is provided through the use of sophisticated OLAP (online analytical processing) and reporting tools.

Beaver County – Data Integration
Supporting various clinical consulting initiatives, service data from the County’s HealthChoices program has been integrated with County-funded service data to allow for a comprehensive view of their behavioral health system. Additional data sources include critical incident/early warning data as well as historical state mental hospital data from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare. Analysis is enabled through the use of OLAP (online analytical processing) and traditional reporting tools.

Data Warehouse – Fayette County MH/MR Program
AHCI has deployed its data warehousing solution to support the managed care Medicaid (HealthChoices) program in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. This warehouse contains data from the County’s managed care contractor in such areas as membership, eligibility, authorizations and paid claims.

Built on an open structure, off-the-shelf reporting tools are used to provide convenient access to this data. AHCI has also provided consulting to Fayette County’s MH/MR program in such areas as IT staffing and infrastructure design.

Data Warehouse – Chester County
AHCI has provided its data warehousing solution to support the managed care Medicaid (HealthChoices) program in Chester County, Pennsylvania. This warehouse contains data from the County’s managed care contractor in such areas as membership, eligibility, authorizations and paid claims.

Built on an open structure, off-the-shelf reporting and OLAP (online analytical processing) tools are used to provide convenient access to data.

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