Kent Center for Human and Organization Development

Who are we?

Kent County Mental Health Center VOCA funding provides services to victims of childhood sexual abuse and victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and other crimes resulting in traumatization of the victim. Through the existing VOCA program, KCMHC provides case management to uninsured consumers who have a need for supportive services which complement their clinical treatment. Experience gained by KCMHC during the participation in the VOCA Program has confirmed there is a profound need for these services. The special needs of this population requires intensive. comprehensive, and integrated services in order to effectively treat the behavioral health disorders resulting from trauma. Funding of this program will allows KCMHC to continue to provide case management services to VOCA-eligible clients who present with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders and have a past history of being traumatized by violence, as well as continue to offer case management services to Center clients who are victims of trauma and are participating in our Day Treatment Program.

The case manger acts as an agent for the client. The case manager supports and advocates for every client who is identified to the Center as meeting VOCA criteria. The methods utilized in accomplishing the goal of providing case management to uninsured consumers who are victims of crime include linking clients with appropriate community resources such as victims assistance, criminal justice related services and other health and human services programs designed to meet client's unique needs. Crisis intervention and emergency crisis intervention services include 24-hour-a-day coverage for clients with immediate needs for shelter and safety are provided as part of the KCMHC continuum of care.

The VOCA Program is part of the intake assessment and counseling unit. Each program within the unit offers a diverse array, of services and is designed so individuals can move easily between programs as their treatment indicates. Service options for VOCA-eligible clients supported by this grant include crisis intervention, psychiatric evaluations and mental health, dual diagnosis and addiction treatment. Physician services and medication monitoring are available at a reduced fee determined on a sliding scale based on family income and household size.

This team of professionals will be responsible to provide and supervise the following services:

• 1. Case Management: The case manager will assist the client in locating and effectively utilizing all medical, social, legal, mental health and substance abuse services available to the client and to work with other providers to coordinate these services. The case manager will insure appropriate communication between programs, advocate on behalf of the client and provide supportive interventions to enhance linkage resources.
• 2. Crisis Intervention: The case manager provides support during the intake process by triaging client contacts, which allows KCMHC to establish clinical priorities based on client need. In addition, she/he provides referral to the KCMHC Emergency Services team for immediate risk management and crisis stabilization.
• 3. Emergency Services: the case manager transports and accompany clients to shelters. hospitals and police departments or courts in emergency situations. She/he also assist in obtaining concrete services, such as emergency housing, food or clothing, financial entitlement and legal assistance.
• 4. Advocacy & Support Services: The case manager provides information, referral and problem solving assistance to identify appropriate service and support networks, and negotiates with collateral services. The case manager can also advocate for the client's needs and obtain information to help the client expand his/her knowledge base on available community resources.
• 5. Criminal Justice Related Services: As needed. the case manager accompanies the client to the police station or court to file petitions, obtain restraining orders and help with advocacy within the legal system. KCMHC also has a court based clinician within the Kent County court system as well. The court clinician provides routine and emergency assessments to court referred clients as needed, facilitates psychiatric hospitalizations and/or referrals to appropriate community based programs for mental health and addiction disorder treatment.
• 6. Staff Development and Training: Provides additional training for the staff in the area of treatment for trauma survivors. Ongoing consultation and case supervision is provided to all staff working with VOCA clients to ensure quality of care. Training focuses specifically on methods and resources to enhance our work with this population.
• 7. Dually Diagnosed (Mental Health & Substance Abuse) Intensive Services: The clinician and case manager. working with the VOCA program manager, identifies clients with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders. They insure that they have access to both mental health and substance abuse counseling and convene as a team to meet regularly to coordinate clinical needs. This helps to develop appropriate group experiences. facilitate empowerment, help support recovery and to put in place appropriate consumer resources.
• 8. Psycho-educational Services: The case manager provides psycho education via individual and group sessions, as appropriate, to help individuals and families understand factors that influence violence, such as issues of power, control, dominance and substance abuse. The goal is to enhance protective factors which promote resilience and strengthen network supports and relationships.
• 9. Volunteer Services: One of the volunteer services available to support our clients is the Foster Grandparent Program. If the client needs childcare while participating in a Center treatment program the case manager can arrange for this service through the Center's Youth & Family Services. The foster grandparent facilitates child playgroups and interacts individually with the children. There is also an age appropriate child-friendly space set rip with toys and books for the children. KCMHC also has a volunteer case manager working to ensure that appropriate fiscal information and residency requirements for entitlement programs are documented properly in client's charts.

Fay Baker, Program Manager
Kent Center for Human and Organization Development
300 Centerville Road
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886-0208
Phone: 401-732-5656
E-mail: KCMHCsummit@KCMHC.org