March 26, 2020
Greetings,
Writing this update and hoping that it finds you healthy and well. The past few weeks seem to be moving in fast forward for Washtenaw County Community Mental Health (WCCMH) administration and staff as we plan for the health and safety for everyone serving the community and for those we serve. Administration is meeting daily to review current updates from health officials and ensure our essential service delivery is on target for the community. Times like these, it is important to remember and live the Mission of WCCMH: To promote hope, recovery, resilience, quality of life, and wellness in Washtenaw County by providing high quality, integrated services to eligible individuals.
Since March 16, 2020, WCCMH Administration has been working on delivering services with an essential level of staff to provide emergent needs, telephonic contacts, medication and injection appointments and any crisis contacts within in the county. As orders and plans regarding COVID-19 have changed, we have been working to review and evaluate, in real time, our plans to ensure service delivery.
WCCMH has enacted the following clinical service delivery plan which will continue to evolve in the weeks to come:
ACCESS/CRISIS/CARES/CRS
- Our 24/7 mobile CARES team is fully operational and available to respond to the community and speak with anyone over the phone who is experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis. We are completing all screenings and intakes for services over the phone or through telemedicine, if you have access to a computer or smart phone, our staff can assist you in setting up an appointment. We are prioritizing urgent and emergent needs at this time for intakes, and can also schedule appointments to take place in person when services are fully operational again.
- Adults with a Mental Illness – reduced and staggered staffing patterns and telephonic contacts
- Adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities – We are increasing limited number of supports coordination for essential functions with a reduced and staggered staffing patterns and telephonic contact
- Youth and Family Services - All medication reviews, intakes and urgent therapy appointments are being conducted via telehealth, in addition to reduced and staggered staffing patterns and telephonic contact
- Assertive Community Treatment – continue to provide daily medication drops and telephonic contact
- Washtenaw County Jail Mental Health Services – use of telemedicine and staggered staffing patterns
- Nursing – WCCMH nurses are working with teams at each site to provide services
- Psychiatry – WCCMH prescribers are using telemedicine to provide psychiatric evaluations and medication reviews
The WCCMH administration and financial team continues to function and provide support to WCMCH staff and our provider network. Claims processing, issuing of payments, payroll processing, human resource issues and clinical support will continue through the duration of the County closure.
We have also been in close contact with our Service Provider Network to ensure they are supported to provide crucial direct care services in the community. Examples of support include information sharing and distributing some supplies. Across the nation, protective medical equipment and daily household items are difficult to find. We are working with the provider network to secure items and dispense them to ensure direct care workers can sustain safe delivery of care.
This update is designed to provide you an overview of the incredible work that WCCMH is providing to the most vulnerable citizens of Washtenaw County. This is noble and tireless work. We appreciate the kind messages, emails, and supplies that are being shared and thank each of you for standing together to deliver the mission of WCCMH.
Sincerely,
Trish