Adult Directory 2013

XI. MENTAL HEALTH
DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), formerly referred to as Department of
Mental Health provides behavioral health services (mental health, substance abuse) to
adults, children, teenagers, and their families. Services are offered at community health
centers, schools, and DBH Core Service Agencies (CSA) include: Emergency, inpatient,
and outpatient psychiatric care, individual, group, and family therapy, community
support, intensive case management, and medication, psycho-educational therapy and
treatment for children experiencing behavioral, emotional and learning challenges. To
enroll contact the Access HelpLine (202) 671-3070 or the consumer line 1-888-7WE-
HELP (1-888-793-4357).
HelpLine staff will conduct an initial mental health assessment via telephone and refer
callers to the appropriate mental health provider, and if possible, facilitate a 3-way
conference call to schedule an intake appointment with the provider. Residents may
receive services at the CSA of their choice, conditioned upon space availability. If the
CSA is at maximum caseload capacity and unable to enroll new consumers, the CSA
must connect the consumer to another CSA.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires most Americans to have health insurance
coverage, public or private by March 31, 2014. Coverage can include job-based private
health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, TriCARE, veterans’ health coverage, and certain
student health insurance plans. Policies must include: Doctor visits, hospital stays,
emergency room care, maternity, and newborn care, mental health treatment,
substance abuse counseling and treatment, rehabilitative services and devices, dental
and vision care, prescription drugs, lab tests. Persons on parole, probation, supervised
release and in jail pending disposition of a criminal charge must have health insurance
coverage.
Representative Payee (Social Security Payments): Most minor children and adults who
are incapable of managing their social security benefits will have a payee.
Representative Payee is an individual or organization appointed by Social Security
Administration (SSA) to receive Social Security benefits for someone who cannot
manage or direct his money. Convicted felons cannot serve as a representative payee,
unless otherwise approved by SSA.
A payee is responsible for everything related to benefits that a capable beneficiary would
do for himself/herself, including:
o Determine the beneficiary’s needs and use payments to meet those needs
o Save any money for the beneficiary's future needs (see SSA guidelines for
minimum amount savings requirements) www.SSA.gov
o Report any changes which could affect the beneficiary’s eligibility
o Keep records of all payments
o Return any payments to which the beneficiary is not entitled to SSA
168
Adult Resource Directory: 2013
Community & Confinement Access Guide