Meridian Behavioral Health Services Inc

PROVISION OF RECOVERY SERVICES, CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES

SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND PROGRAMS: 1. A LOCAL MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATION DESIGNATED MERIDIAN AS ONE OF FIVE "COMPREHENSIVE CARE CENTERS" IN A 23 COUNTY REGION. THE CENTERS PROVIDE A "CORE SERVICES BUNDLE" THAT INCLUDES READY ACCESS TO ASSESSMENT SERVICES (WALK-IN CENTERS), BASIC BENEFIT SERVICES (INDIVIDUAL AND EVIDENCE-BASED GROUP TREATMENT), PSYCHIATRIC/MEDICATION EVALUATION AND CRISIS SERVICES. IN ADDITION, THE CENTERS PROVIDE AN ARRAY OF MEDICAID-FUNDED, ENHANCED SERVICES (ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT TEAM, INTENSIVE IN-HOME AND OTHERS). 2. MERIDIAN CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE LEADING PROPONENTS OF THE "RECOVERY" INITIATIVE FOR ADULTS. ALL STAFF RECEIVE RECOVERY AND RECONNECT FOR RESILIENCE TRAININGS, INCLUDING CHILD SERVICE STAFF. 3. THERE ARE NOW WALK-IN FACILITIES IN MACON, JACKSON, HAYWOOD, AND TRANSYLVANIA COUNTIES. THESE FACILITIES PROVIDE OUTPATIENT AND MEDICATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. 4. MERIDIAN CONTINUES TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE WORK IT DOES WITH ITS ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT TEAM SERVICES FOR ADULTS. MERIDIAN HAS FOUR TEAMS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES IN NINE COUNTIES INCLUDING BUNCOMBE, TRANSYLVANIA, HAYWOOD, JACKSON, MACON, SWAIN, CHEROKEE, GRAHAM, AND CLAY. 5. MERIDIAN CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM. 6. MERIDIAN CONTINUES TO ASSIST EMPLOYEES WHO WISH TO ATTAIN DUAL CREDENTIALS IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH. EMPLOYEES IN ALL SERVICE PROGRAMS ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS INITIATIVE. IT IS MERIDIAN'S PLAN TO HAVE DUALLY-CREDENTIALED, DUALLY-COMPETENT CLINICIANS IN ALL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. 7. MERIDIAN CONTINUES TO USE PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS IN THE RECOVERY EDUCATION CENTERS, AS WELL AS, OUTPATIENT SERVICES. INTERVENTIONS BY PEER SUPPORT SPECIALISTS SERVE TO ENHANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL SUPPORTS, AS WELL AS COPING AND SELF-MANAGEMENT SKILLS, AND MAY ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ASSIST AN INDIVIDUAL IN COMMUNITY RE-ENTRY FOLLOWING HOSPITALIZATION. SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS INCLUDE: SELF-HELP, SYSTEM ADVOCACY, INDIVIDUAL ADVOCACY, PRE-CRISIS AND POST-CRISIS SUPPORT, HOUSING, EDUCATION/EMPLOYMENT, MEALS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. 8. MERIDIAN CONTINUES TO PROVIDE SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS WHICH IS AN EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT HAS SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE IN ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS TO ACQUIRE AND MAINTAIN COMPETITIVE PAID EMPLOYMENT, PARTICULARLY THOSE FOR WHOM EMPLOYMENT HAS NOT BEEN ACHIEVED AND/OR HAS BEEN INTERRUPTED OR INTERMITTENT. SERVICES ARE DRIVEN BY THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS PREFERENCES AND CHOICES. ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF THIS SERVICE IS THAT NO ONE IS EXCLUDED ("ZERO-EXCLUSION" FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM ON THE BASIS OF READINESS, DIAGNOSIS, SYMPTOMS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE HISTORY, PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION, LEVEL OF DISABILITY OR LEGAL SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. THE SERVICE CLEARLY AFFIRMS THAT EMPLOYMENT IS A PATH TO RECOVERY. 9. MERIDIAN SUPPORTS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGH INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING IN OFFICES AND SCHOOLS, INTENSIVE IN-HOME SERVICES, AND MEDICATION MANAGEMENT. MERIDIAN ENDED ITS DAY TREATMENT SERVICES IN SCHOOLS DUE TO FACTORS RELATED TO COVID SUCH AS REMOTE LEARNING AND BECAUSE OF STAFFING ISSUES. AS AN ALTERNATIVE, MERIDIAN WORKED WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND VAYA TO PROVIDE OUTPATIENT PLUS SERVICES TO HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE CHILDREN.