The purpose of the Monterey County Behavioral Health Bureau is to enhance the social, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the residents of Monterey County. The behavioral health bureau provides an array of mental health, wellness, and substance abuse services throughout the county for both children and adults who are Medi-Cal eligible. Specific services include mental health assessments, medication evaluation/support, individual, group, and family therapy, case management, prevention and early intervention services and partnerships with many non-profits to help further the county's mission
Program Information Adult System of Care by Region (Salinas, South County, Marina)
-Overview: offers support to adults aged 18 years and older, including: inpatient services, crisis support, medication management, outpatient case management, brokerage, psycho-education and therapy groups. Also collaborates with other County departments, as well as community-based agencies to provide housing support, linkage to employment, and education services.
-Specialty: Forensics
Children System of Care by Region (Salinas, South County, Marina)
-Overview: offers services to children and youth experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges, as well as their families. Offers the following: mental health assessment & consultation, medication evaluation & support, therapy (individual, group, & family), case management, crisis intervention, and prevention/early intervention.
-Specialty: Services to Education, Juvenile Justice, Foster Care, Residential
-Specialty: Early Childhood and Transitional Age Youth
Access to Treatment by Region (Salinas, South County, Marina)
-Overview: offers services to all ages, provide information/education/resources to prospective consumers and/or their family, conduct brief mental health triages to connect consumers and/or referrals (i.e. PCP, CPS, etc.) to appropriate community resources, conduct thorough mental assessments to link consumers to most appropriate level of care within MCBH system or community, case management (resource linkage, medication management, etc.), crisis intervention, and provide brief therapy (individual and/or group).
-Specialty: Substance Use Disorders
Duties
- Screening
- Assessment
- Case Management
- Treatment (i.e. individual and/or group therapy, etc.)
Experiences & Skills Gained
- Understand the public behavioral health system & community resources
- Increase ability to provide service with Cultural Humility, Competence and Responsiveness and within a Trauma Informed framework
- Increase understanding of the different levels of mental health care dependent on individualized needs
- Increase understanding of DSM-V diagnoses and appropriate interventions
- Learn Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Learn to conduct a risk assessment, including the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale