Adult Services

MRTs are designed to address a wide variety of interventions, including:

• Determine the need for further examination at a Designated Receiving Facility or licensed substance use
• Provider based on a clinical assessment
• Assess the individual for risk of suicidal and homicidal thoughts or behaviors
• Assess the individual for mood disturbances such as depression, anxiety, delusional thoughts, or hallucinations that may contribute to and exacerbate the crisis; and Identify family or peer conflicts and other disruptive behaviors that are or may contribute to escalating the crisis and consider services and supports available to reduce them.

Eligibility:

MRTs provide immediate, onsite behavioral health crisis services at minimum to individuals who:

• Have an emotional disturbance; or
• Are experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis; or
• Are experiencing escalating emotional or behavioral health reactions and symptoms that impact their ability to function typically within their family, living situation, or community environment; or,
• Are served by the child welfare system and are experiencing or at high risk of placement instability

*Mobile Response supports the “no wrong door” model and provide warm-handoff to services within the community based on the individual need. Mobile Response is a free service for all of Palm Beach County.

At South County Mental Health Clinic, we’re all about improving a client’s quality of life. And that
means addressing their social, recreational, and vocational needs. SCMHC offers instruction in life
skills, prevocational training, and social growth opportunities for clients who are severely and
persistently mentally ill.

Our offerings include day treatment programs as well as social activities for adults and seniors.

• Our day services include a robust substance abuse component to help provide the
  information and skills necessary to help prevent drug or alcohol problems.
• At the SCMHC Activities Center, your loved one can enjoy the give-and-take of social
  relationships and expression by participating in a variety of events and guided exercises.

Locations: Delray Beach & Belle Glade, Florida

The Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) at South County Mental Health Center provides short-term, intensive mental health services for adults experiencing acute psychiatric crises. Our goal is to stabilize individuals in a safe, therapeutic environment, reduce the need for inpatient hospitalization, and support a safe return to the community with appropriate follow-up care.

We serve adults (18+) who present with severe mental health symptoms, including depression, anxiety, psychosis, and behavioral disturbances. The CSU accepts both voluntary and involuntary admissions in accordance with Florida law, ensuring individuals in crisis receive immediate care and stabilization. Through a multidisciplinary, recovery-oriented approach, we provide individualized treatment focused on safety, stabilization, and continuity of care.

Program Highlights:

• 24/7 crisis intervention, assessment, and psychiatric stabilization
• Accepts both voluntary and involuntary admissions (including Baker Act)
• Average length of stay is typically 3–7 days, based on clinical need
• Medication management and psychiatric evaluation by licensed providers
• Daily therapeutic group programming focused on coping skills, emotional regulation, and recovery
• Individualized treatment planning with a multidisciplinary team (psychiatry, nursing, therapy, and case management)
• Discharge planning initiated at admission to ensure continuity of care
• Coordination with hospitals, community providers, and support systems for seamless transitions

Location: Delray Beach, Florida

The Short-Term Residential Treatment (SRT) Program at South County Mental Health Center provides structured, supportive residential care for adults with mental health needs who require a higher level of care than outpatient services but do not meet criteria for inpatient hospitalization. This program offers a therapeutic environment where individuals can build stability, develop life skills, and work toward long-term recovery.

This is a 30 to 90-day residential program serving adults (18+) with ongoing mental health challenges who benefit from a structured living environment combined with clinical support. Admissions are accepted exclusively through referrals from inpatient providers, ensuring appropriate level-of-care placement and continuity from higher levels of care.

Program Highlights:

• 30–90 day structured residential program focused on stabilization and skill-building
• Admissions accepted through inpatient provider referral only
• 24-hour supervised residential setting with a therapeutic daily schedule
• Individual and group therapy focused on coping skills, relapse prevention, and emotional wellness
• Medication management and coordination with psychiatric providers
• Life skills training including hygiene, cooking, budgeting, and independent living skills
• Case management and care coordination to support long-term stability
• Discharge planning with linkage to housing, employment, and outpatient services

The Intensive Case Management Team is staffed by 4 case managers and provides intensive case management services to South County Mental Health Center individuals whose primary diagnosis is major mental illness. The ICM Team:

• Limits 15 clients per case manager. The reduced caseloads allow each case manager to devote greater time and attention to each client.
• Promotes a recovery-oriented perspective of the individuals that utilize their natural supports.
• Assesses the individual’s needs, barriers, and strengths so an individualized service plan can be developed to ensure the best care.
• Links the individual to care that meets their identified needs.
• Provides weekly home visits to ensure stability

The Adult Case Management Team is staffed by 3 case managers and provides less intensive monitoring for those individuals whose primary diagnosis is major mental illness. Individuals in Adult Case Management have progressed to being self-sufficient in the community but may need some assistance. Services also include follow-up to determine the status of services, and the effectiveness of activities related to enhancing the member’s inclusion in the community. The ACM Team:

• Has a max caseload of 30 clients.
• Meets with individuals on a monthly/bi-monthly basis to ensure stability.
• Links and advocates for individuals who need some assistance.
• Ensures individuals continue to manage their ADLS appropriately.

The Care Coordination Team is a specialized team who work with High Utilizers in Palm Beach County. This includes several populations such as individuals who have received 3 or more Baker Acts within 90 days, individuals who have been in an Acute Care Facility for 16 days or more, individuals with DCF involvement, awaiting State Mental Health Treatment Facility (SMHTF) placement, recent discharge from SMHTF, and other high risk department approved individuals. Care Coordinators provide assistance with linkage to a wide variety of services and necessary resources based on the individual’s needs, with an overall goal of reducing hospitalizations and encouraging continued growth and success. The Care Coordination Team:

• Utilizes Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC) to meet individuals where they are at.
• Provides linkages to resources such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Insurance Assistance, Housing/Placement resources and referrals, assistance obtaining ID’s, medication management, therapy services, peer supports, natural supports, support groups, and many other resources based on needs.
• Works with high need individuals for a 3-6 month period, with a goal of further linking these individuals with the appropriate level of care post discharge.
• Offers Substance Abuse Care Coordination services to dual diagnosis individuals.

At South County Mental Health Center, our residential services for adults offers varying levels of care designed to best prepare each client to achieve their optimum level of independent living. This ranges from fully supervised residential care to independent community living.

he Navigate Program is a comprehensive program designed to provide early and effective treatment to individuals who have experienced a first episode of psychosis. The treatment focused on helping individuals navigate the road to recovery from a first episode of psychosis by supporting efforts to function well at home, on the job, at school and in the social world. We serve Palm Beach County residents between the ages of 16 and 34. We are a Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) team that provides:

• Specialty Psychiatry with evaluation and medication management.
• Individual Resiliency Training for the client focusing on awareness and long-term recovery skills.
• Family Education for the client’s support system that focuses on understanding the nature of psychosis, how to support your loved one’s recovery, and support.
• Peer Support from someone who has experienced his or her own recovery and is there to provide one-on-one support and encouragement to the client or support system.
• Supported Employment and Education services to assist the client with enrolling and completing educational goals along with direct support in securing and maintaining meaningful employment.
• Case management services to assist the client and family with needs that are supportive of the client’s recovery.

The Forensic Mental Health Department is designed to help divert individuals with severe and persistent mental illness from incarceration to provide mental health support for those unable to stand trial or deemed Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, as well as track treatment for those in the Forensic State Hospital system. We serve adults with bona fide mental health diagnoses referred directly from Circuit 15 Division T court or transferred from mental health court systems within the State of Florida. Together we:

•  Oversee and ensure timely and income-based services for those on Conditional Release Ordered treatment
• Assess those on the waitlist for State Mental Health Forensic Treatment Centers to see if they can be diverted to community outpatient services
• Act as liaisons between the court and treatment team facilities working with our individual clients
• Track discharge planning and treatment to ensure hospitalized and incarcerated individuals transition with care and safety
• Instruct pre-trial individuals on competency restoration so they can understand the court process to have a fair trial or plea
• Offer a Forensic Multidisciplinary Team that consists of a Peer Support Specialist, Therapist, Nurse Practitioner, and Intensive Case Manager, all able to provide community and at-home services for those needing intensive Wraparound services
• Provide recovery-oriented services, promote empowerment, and encourage personal responsibility and growth for participants in the felony court system