Adult Services

Children's Services

Adult Services

Adults with severe and persistent mental illness living in community settings have a variety of service needs.Community mental health centers serve as the focal point for services purchased by the Division of Mental Health for adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses. Services and resources include: medical, social, educational, vocational and other support services necessary to meet basic human needs.

Services available to adults with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) include:

Residential/Transitional Services: Short term intensive transitional services and long term facility based treatment programs designed to prevent hospitalization or ease transition from an inpatient facility to independent or supported living environments.

Programs of Assertive Community Treatment (IMPACT): Intensive services to individuals with extensive histories of hospitalizations, and individuals needing very intensive services to remain in the community.

Continuous Assistance, Rehabilitation and Education (CARE) Program: Treatment, rehabilitation, and support services aimed at helping the SPMI population live successfully in the community.

Crisis Intervention. An immediate therapeutic response available 24 hours a day which, depending on client's needs, involves direct telephone or face-to-face contact with clients exhibiting acute psychiatric symptoms and/or inappropriate behavior, their families, and other collaterals to alleviate the problems which, if untreated, present an immediate threat to the client or others.

Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Program: PATH funds community-based outreach, mental health, substance abuse, case management, and other support services, as well as a limited set of housing needs.

Psychiatric/Medication Management: The CARE team will assist with administration of prescription and nonprescription medications prescribed by a psychiatrist, physician, physician's assistant, or certified nurse practitioner for consumers who are incapable of self-administration and instruct in the act of self-administration of prescription and non prescription medications prescribed for self administration. Regular review and documentation of consumer mental illness symptoms as well as his/her response to prescribed medication treatment and monitor treat, and document any medication side effects.

Emergency Services: Emergency services are available 24 hours per day, seven days a week, for persons experiencing a mental health emergency or crisis. Emergency services are designed to stabilize the emergency situation and to provide immediate treatment in the least restrictive environment possible.

Outpatient Services: Outpatient services provide nonresidential diagnostic and treatment services that are goal oriented, include an individualized treatment plan, and are provided by staff trained and experienced in mental health. Services shall be designed to assure movement toward a measurable treatment goal(s).



Children's Services

The goal of the Division of Mental Health is to ensure children with severe emotional disturbances are able to live with their families and in their home community whenever possible. To help accomplish this goal, the Division supports ongoing efforts for developing, sustaining, and continually improving a high quality, community-based, individualized, family-centered mental health system of care in which children receive the support to live and learn in their home, schools and communities.

Family-centered services include: individual mental health therapy for the child, family education/therapy, case management, child/family support services, and twenty-four /seven day (24/7) availability for crisis intervention for children with a Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) and their families.

Services Available:

In-home individual therapy. Face-to-face contact between a consumer and therapist in which the therapist delivers direct therapy to assist the consumer in progress toward treatment goals.

In-home family education/support/therapy. Face-to-face contact between two or more family members and therapist in which the therapist delivers direct therapy, education relating to the child's psychiatric condition, or support services to develop coping skills for the parents and family members.

Out-of-Home Therapy. Face-to-face contact between a consumer/family and therapist in which the therapist delivers direct therapy to assist the consumer in progress toward treatment goals. This service will be provided in the child's school, neutral location, etc. The service may be provided in a clinic setting if justified in the clinical record.

Crisis Intervention. An immediate therapeutic response available 24 hours a day which, depending on client's needs, involves direct telephone or face-to-face contact with clients exhibiting acute psychiatric symptoms and/or inappropriate behavior, their families, and other collaterals to alleviate the problems which, if untreated, present an immediate threat to the client or others.

Case Management. Services which assist the child/family in gaining access to, and building collaboration and coordination among family, caretakers, medical, social, educational, community resources and other services and support the child and family in meeting the goals and objectives of the Case Service Plan. Case management performs direct service as well as service coordination. Crisis issues are dealt with and ongoing problem solving is accomplished. Services may be either face-to-face or by telephone with the client, client's family, significant others, or service providers.

Assessment and Evaluation. A written evaluation of a set of symptoms indicating a mental disorder or a condition requiring treatment. A Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) or Clinical Supervisor must complete, date, and sign the evaluation.

Psychological Evaluation. A face-to-face meeting between or under the supervision of a psychologist, resulting in a written evaluation of a set of symptoms. The process may result in the indication of a mental disorder or a condition requiring treatment, as outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV).

Group Therapy. Goal directed, face-to-face therapeutic intervention with the eligible client and one or more clients who are treated at the same time, which focuses on the mental health needs of the clients in the group.

Families with a child who has a serious emotional disturbance (SED) could qualify for services through the South Dakota Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities' Respite Care program. For more information go to: Respite Care Program or call 1-800-265-9684.