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Summary of COMHAR'S Outreach Assessment and Treatment Services (OATS)

Conference held at Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment on October 6, 2004

COMHAR, Inc. is a community Mental Health/Mental Retardation center located at 100 West Lehigh Avenue, which serves the residents of Kensington, Juniata, and Port Richmond sections of Philadelphia. Residents of these areas are Caucasian, African-American, and Latino. COMHAR was awarded a grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts to increase the accessibility and availability of services to the elderly residents of this catchment area.

Efforts will be directed to the Latino elderly population whose needs for mental health care have become increasingly apparent. Gerontologists have consistently noted reluctance of older adults to seek help from mental health centers. Elder Latinos have been even more resistive than the general population to make use of services from community mental health centers. As a result of vigorous outreach, the number of Latinos served by COMHAR has extended from 20 clients to 500 in the past two years. With this new Outreach and Assessment Program, COMHAR will attempt to treat Latino elders experiencing depression and other age related mental disorders.

TARGET POPULATION

Individuals 60 years of age or older with a primary mental health disorder such as thought disorders. Major depression and other depressive disorders, anxiety disorders or adjustment disorders related to aging are a high priority for this program. Persons with symptoms of dementia with paranoid and depressive features will also be eligible for this program. The objective is to retain people in the community, and avoid costly hospitalization or institutional placements which are disruptive to consumers and their families.

PROPOSED SERVICES

Major elements of the service design are;

100 West Lehigh Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19133-4097 - 215-203-3000 - Fax 215-203-3011 TDD 800-654-5944

Summary of COMHAR's OAP

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Linkage with other agencies is fundamental for all clients, and especially for the older consumers who have multiple problems, (housing, medical disorders, and financial concerns).

STAFFING

A full time Bilingual clinical social worker will be hired to carry out the outreach and counseling aspects of the program. The clinical social worker will be based at 100 West Lehigh Avenue, but the major portion of the time will be spent in client's homes, area hospitals, health centers, senior centers, and personal care homes. A part-time Social Work Consultant will be hired to work with the clinical social worker in the initial development of the program. A psychiatric resident will be available for diagnosis and treatment recommendations. An experienced COMHAR staff person will provide administrative oversight.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

An essential factor to the success of the Outreach and Assessment Service, is an Advisory Committee, that can contribute to the support and guidance in shaping a program that will be responsive to the mental health needs of the elderly community residents. A concerted effort will be made to recruit a board that will have 50% representative of members 55 years of age or older. Board members will include consumers, family members, community residents, and representatives of agencies participating in this program.

Return to: Mental Health and Aging: October 6, 2004 Conference, Introductory page

Mental Health/Aging Advocacy Project | a project of the Mental Health Association of SE PA | 1211 Chestnut Street | Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 215-751-1800, ext. 266 | e-mail: tvolkert@mhasp.org | www.mhaging.org
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