Funding Services for Homeless Individuals and Families

1
Funding Services for Homeless Individuals and
Families

• Presented By
• Marian V. Bland, LCSW-C
• Acting Director, Division of Special Needs
  Populations
• Maryland Mental Hygiene Administration

2
Mental Hygiene Administration (MHA) Division of
Special Needs Populations

• Created in 1992 to oversee services and grants
  for special populations.
• Division is responsible for individuals who are
  homeless, persons who are incarcerated in local
  detention centers, persons who are deaf or hard
  of hearing, persons with histories of trauma,
  persons with co-occurring substance use
  disorders, and victims of man-made or natural
  disasters.

3
Special Features of Marylands Mental Health
System

• Homeless persons who have a serious mental
  illness are designated a priority population.
• Individuals who are homeless who have medical
  assistance or are uninsured are eligible for
  mental health services under the public mental
  health system.
• MHA have staff designated within the Division of
  Special Needs Populations to oversees homeless
  services and develop programs to address the
  needs of those who are homeless and have a
  serious mental illness.
• Representation from the State and Local mental
  health authorities on local Continuum of Care
  Planning Boards, participation on State and Local
  housing committees, and the States 10-year plan
  to end homelessness.
• MHA allocates 12 (8.5 million) of its mental
  health block grant funding to provides services
  and/or housing to persons who are homeless.

4
Creating Linkages with the Criminal Justice System

• In 1992 MHA begun a pilot program (Maryland
  Community Criminal Justice Treatment Program) in
  4 detention centers (jails) using state general
  funds as the seed money.
• In 2001 expanded to 23 detention centers and
  communities.
• MCCJTP serves consumers with serious mental
  illness and other disorders or conditions such as
  co-occurring substance abuse or trauma history.

5
The Maryland Community Criminal Justice Treatment
Program (MCCJTP)

• Purpose
• To provide comprehensive
• services to individuals with
• special needs who are involved
• with the criminal justice system.

6
Special Requirements

• In order to receive the seed money for MCCJTP,
  each county must form a local, multi-agency
  advisory board and develop an Memorandum of
  Agreement which outlines what each agency has
  committed to do.

7
(No Transcript)
8
Creating Linkages with the Criminal Justice
System - Continued

• The State and Local Mental Health Authority is an
  active member of the MCCJTP advisory boards.
• Discharge planning and case management is a
  component of the MCCJTP program.
• MHA is an active member of the Maryland
  Correctional Administrators Association (MCAA).
• MHA is a member of the Executive Board of MCAA
  and various committees held by the Department of
  Corrections and Public Safety.
• MHA co-chairs the mental health substance abuse
• subcommittee of MCAA.

9
Creating Funding for Housing

• In 1995 MHA applied for funding from HUD to
  develop a Shelter Plus Care Housing Program for
  mental health consumers who are coming out of
  jail or under Parole and Probation.
• MHA was awarded a five-year grant of 5.5 million
  for 14 counties.
• Since 2001, MHA was been awarded 11 additional
  five-year grants. A total of 24 million in
  funding has been received since the programs
  inception.
• Currently receives 3.2 million annually for 20
  participating counties.
• Currently serving 581 persons, 139 single
  individuals, 145 families with 238 children and
  59 other family members.

10
Shelter Plus Care Housing Program

• Provides tenant and/or sponsor-based rental
  assistance to individuals and families with an
  adult member who have a serious mental illness.
• The rental assistance is matched with an array of
  supportive services which is provided through the
  public mental health system and other state and
  local agencies.
• Each participant is authorized case management
  services through the public mental health system
  throughout their participation in the Shelter
  Plus Care Housing Program.

11
S C Housing Program Overall Accomplishments

• Has reunited families.
• Has provided decent and affordable housing.
• Has broken the cycle of recidivism to multiple
  service systems by providing case management and
  other supportive services for individuals,
  families, and children.
• 1 recidivism to homelessness
• 1 recidivism to psychiatric hospitals
• Less than 7 recidivism to jail

12
Creating Funding for ServicesPATH - Projects for
Assistance in Transition from Homelessness

• Recipient of PATH funds since 1991.
• Currently receives 1 million in federal PATH
  funding.
• Provides outreach, screening and diagnostic
  services, case management, community mental
  health, alcohol and drug treatment services,
  supportive services in residential settings,
  housing assistance, and consumer and staff
  training.
• 1,630 served in Federal FY04
• Services provided in 22 counties and Baltimore
  City.

13
Creating Funding for Services Mental Health
Block Grant

• 8.5 (12) of Mental Health Block Grant funds are
  targeted to persons who are homeless.
• Services provided through MHBG includes homeless
  outreach, case management, mobile or assertive
  community treatment, vocational services,
  emergency, transitional and permanent housing
  supports, homeless prevention, and crisis
  intervention services.

14
Creating Funding for Services Public Mental
Health Funding

• Specialty mental health services, i.e. outpatient
  mental health, community rehabilitation and
  vocational services, residential rehabilitation,
  and supported employment.
• Targeted case management
• 25 mobile treatment teams using ACT model

15
Creating Funding for Trauma-based Services -
TAMAR PROGRAM

• Funded by MHA AIDS Administration
• Formerly Site for SAMSHA Women and Violence Study
• Provides mental health, substance abuse, and
  trauma treatment for men and women in detention
  centers

16
T.A.M.A.R.

• TAMAR is the Middle Eastern name for Palm Tree- a
  tree known for its flexibility and strength

• Trauma
• Addictions
• Mental health
• And
• Recovery

17
What services does TAMAR provide?

• Assessment Referral
• Treatment groups in Detention Center in the
  community
• Connection to community case management and
  services
• Peer support in some communities
• Child care available while the women attends
  treatment peer support groups in community.

18
Tamars Children- Baltimore City

• Partnership with Baltimore City Mayors Office on
  Criminal Justice
• Designed to serve pregnant and post-partum
  incarcerated women and their infants
• Provides holistic care

19
Services in Facility

• In last trimester, women will move to off-site
  facility
• Receive mental health, substance abuse, trauma
  treatment, parenting supports, case management,
  and pre post-natal care
• Participate in the Circle of Security

20
Circle of Security Intervention

• Group Interventions
• Careful repeated review of videotapes of
  mothers interaction with baby.
• Assists in establishing a secure base
  attachment
• Increases mothers awareness of events/behaviors

21
Services in the Community for the Tamars
Children Program

• Intensive case management to transition into
  community
• Entitlements
• Housing-HUDs Shelter Plus Care
• Mental health, substance abuse, trauma
  treatment
• Peer support group
• Continue with Circle of Security

22
TAMAR Community Project

• Funded by AIDS Administration Ryan White Title
  II funds
• Will provide services to women with
• HIV/AIDS
• Histories of Trauma
• Mental Health issues
• Substance Abuse issues
• Involvement in the Criminal Justice System

23
Recommended Strategies to Fund Services for
Homeless Individuals and Families

• Staff designated at State level to create and
  sustain programs for persons who are homeless.
• Include services for persons who are homeless as
  a priority
• Target mental health block grant funds for
  services.
• Examine other sources of funding
• Blending funding Federal, State, Local and
  Private funding
• Develop partnerships

24
Best Practices - Continued

• State involvement in policy and planning
  committees.
• Advocate at all levels for inclusions of
  individuals who are homeless and have access to
  mainstream services.
• Obtain outcome data.

25
CONTACT INFORMATION

• Marian V. Bland, LCSW-C
• Division of Special Populations8450 Dorsey Run
  RoadP O Box 1000Jessup MD 20794-1000(410)724-32
  35 Fax [phone]
• blandm_at_dhmh.state.md.us