Community Support Services
What is Community Support Services?
Community Support Services (CSS) is an outreach based team located at 1128 NW Harriman in downtown Bend and serves the seriously mentally ill adult population. Services include supported housing, supported employment, homeless outreach, intensive case management, outreach, psychiatric and nurse medication management, therapy, therapy groups, skills training, case management, Daily Structure and Support, Rainbow Clubhouse, dual diagnosis treatment, consumer-run programs, and a variety of groups including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). CSS follows an Evidence Based Practices (EBP) model which promotes empowering our consumers to realize their fullest potential and to recognize that recovery is possible in everyone.
Who is Eligible?
To receive services from CSS a person must:
- Meet eligibility requirements for enrollment as a consumer of Deschutes County Mental Health (DCMH);
- Have a serious mental illness; and,
- Be willing to receive and participate in services.
What kind of services are available to consumers of CSS?
Supported Housing
DCMH believes that safe and affordable housing should be available to all. Case Managers work closely with consumers to help them find housing in the least restrictive setting or to maintain current housing.
CSS also offers a variety of supported housing programs for those who meet eligibility:
- Adult Foster Homes: DCMH has three adult foster homes with 5 beds in each home. These foster homes serve adults who are making the transition back into the community from various institutions. There are strict guidelines for qualifications and eligibility. Contact Sarah Haefele at (541)330-4639 or email at Sarah_Haefele@co.deschutes.or.us for more information.
- Emma’s Place is an 11 unit long-term apartment complex for adults with serious mental illness. Emma’s Place is a drug and alcohol free complex. Residents must be consumers of DCMH and be referred to the program through their therapist. Qualified consumers outside of Deschutes County are eligible to apply as well. There is a DCMH case manager on-site 10-15 hours/week to provide case management and skills training. All other CSS services are available to these residents. Contact Sarah Haefele at (541)330-4639 or email at Sarah_Haefele@co.deschutes.or.us for more information.
- Horizon House is a 14 unit transitional apartment complex for adults with serious mental illness who are difficult to house and who would benefit from intensive case management, groups, and skills training to learn skills necessary to transition successfully into independent living. Consumers need to be open with DCMH and be referred to the program by their therapist. Qualified consumers outside of Deschutes County are welcome to apply as well. A case manager is on-site 30+ hours/week. Horizon House is a drug and alcohol free complex. Contact Sarah Haefele at (541)330-4639 or email at Sarah_Haefele@co.deschutes.or.us for more information.
Supported Employment
Supported Employment is an approach to vocational rehabilitation that provides the supports necessary to facilitate success in the workplace. This program provides training and support for people who want to work and who qualify for CSS services. The focus of Supported Employment is on supporting individuals to become as self reliant as possible.
Supported Employment is based on the following Principles:
- Eligibility is based on participant choice.
- Competitive employment is the goal.
- Employment search starts soon after a participant expresses interest in working.
- Personalized benefits’ planning is provided.
- Participant preferences are important.
- Supported Employment is integrated with treatment.
Our Supported Employment specialists work with various agencies to identify and create partnerships that will assist in employing clients open in the Supported Employment program. Please note that this is not a job bank but rather an opportunity for competitive employment.
Supported Employment is part of an evidence based practice by the Oregon Supported Employment Center for Excellence.
Our Supported Employment team is made up of three Employment Specialists: Nikki, Emily and Jeff. For more information about the Supported Employment Program please contact Emily at 385.1407 or emilyc@co.deschutes.or.us.
Homeless Outreach
Through a federally funded grant, CSS has a part-time case manager who works with adults with serious mental illness who are targeted at being homeless or at risk of homelessness. This case manager works in partnership with local homeless shelters and with local non-profit agencies committed to working with the homeless population. The goal is to develop relationships with this population built on trust and honest communication in hopes of enrolling them in services for a more comprehensive treatment approach and/or to keep them in services. Please contact Sarah Elliott at (541)317-3153 or at Sarah_Elliott@co.deschutes.or.us for more information.
Intensive Case Management (ICM)
Two staff comprise this sub-team that has a fluid caseload to serve those targeted as our consumers who are most at-risk of hospitalization or who have just gotten out of the hospital. This team provides as much as daily support and case management in hopes of allowing our consumers to maintain their independence while stabilizing. Once clients are no longer in need of ICM services, they are transitioned back to their case manager/therapist. Please contact Jim Denman at (541)330-4622 or Jim_Denman@co.deschutes.or.us for more information.
Psychiatric and Nurse Practitioner Medication Management
CSS has prescribers available 3 days per week to see consumers in need of medication changes, adjustments, or monitoring. A nurse is available full-time to fill medication minders and assist prescribers with refills and checking on consumers with medication changes. Contact Barbara Fast, RN at (541)330-4689 or Barbara_Fast@co.deschutes.or.us for more information.
Rainbow Clubhouse
The Clubhouse is located within the CSS program and participation in Clubhouse is voluntary. Consumers are referred to as ‘members’ and this is an important distinction of the Clubhouse philosophy. There is one staff person available to members for advisement but members make the day to day decisions about the activities of the clubhouse. Members are invited to participate in a variety of voluntary work units and activities aimed at making sure that the business of the Clubhouse is accomplished.
Members need to be open DCMH consumers and consumers work through their clinician to get referred to the program. Clubhouse interviews interested referrals and decides as a group when to accept a new member. Clubhouse is currently open Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Work units of Clubhouse include:
- Pot of Gold Thrift store located at 1128 NW Hill Street. This thrift store is member owned and operated and revenue goes to support the operation of the thrift store and the members’ activities.
- The Kitchen Unit prepares a daily lunch for members. Meal costs are minimal thanks to generous donations from NeighborImpact and USDA.
- The Administrative and Clerical Unit handles all correspondence, accounting, grant writing, and other tasks.
Please feel free to call Rainbow Clubhouse directly at (541) 330-4662 for more information.
Outreach/Skills Training/Case Management/Daily Structure and Support
CSS is comprised mainly of case managers who perform a variety of tasks aimed at working with consumers to realize their fullest potential while learning the skills and getting the support they need to maintain their stability. This can include outreach to consumer’s homes to learn how they live, skills training for consumer to increase their skills base in finding/maintaining housing, employment, interpersonal relationships or managing their illness. Case Management services are available to help consumers get connected to all services and resources that they may be interested and eligible for including health insurance, Social Security, food stamps, rental assistance, and utility assistance. These services are also available on a limited basis to consumers who live in Redmond and LaPine at our regional offices.
Therapy and Therapy Groups
CSS has two therapists who work actively with consumers who benefit from counseling. These therapist also provide group therapy opportunities that are developed to meet the current needs of the individuals they are treating. Groups offered in past have included a Grief group and a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) education group.
Skills Groups
Skills groups are also offered by both case managers and therapists. Ongoing groups at CSS are Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Symptoms Management, and Dual Diagnosis groups for those who experience a mental illness and an addiction. New groups are frequently added to address the needs of the consumers.
Consumer Run Programs
An important piece of EBP’s and the Recovery Model is the involvement of peer support and consumer run programs. Currently at CSS an art class is planned that will be run by a consumer, a wellness program is being developed by and for consumers, and an addictions support group for dual diagnosis is starting January 2007. This program is in its early stages and is continually being developed based on training by staff and input from consumers.
For More Information Contact:
Deschutes County Mental Health Communtiy Support Services
(541) 330-4637
