Mental health is a critical aspect in modern times for both adults and children, and it is essential to address it at every stage of life. The Rebirth Counselling and Training Center is an agency that provides services to anyone eligible, according to the criteria determined by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. The program is primarily set to cater to those insured through State Medicaid or a Care Management Organization. Once certified, individuals and their families are able to access treatment services at no cost. In cases where individuals do not have insurance, various policies guide the agency on how to provide therapy and skill-building services for some time. During this period, the organization continues to work with the individuals in the process of acquiring insurance through submitting applications to the Department of Family and Children Services. The agency is well structured and organized to appropriately provide excellent services to deal with particular community needs.
The clinical director ensures that those anticipating joining the social work field understand that it is a service industry. Therefore, they must effectively guide those they attend to in navigating through life and social issues. It is also their duty as health practitioners to address the underlying mental illnesses that may require more intense psychiatric intervention and medical assistance. Treatment at Rebirth is person-centered since individuals are allowed to develop how their treatment looks from the intake period to the discharge period. By adhering to this, the health providers can offer high-quality, evidence-based services focused on a person’s changing needs and circumstances. Continuous training is done to ensure the employees are well equipped to perform their tasks.
The organization mainly encourages one-on-one visits by patients to the center, but telehealth services have been embraced due to the recent pandemic. However, this made it more challenging for the intervention teams to follow up on whether patients were engaged in treatment and focused on meeting treatment goals. The teams faced challenges due to shortages of personal protective equipment, poor coordination and management, increased workload, and lack of incentives. Nevertheless, the agency pushed to manage the situation, and many of the patients were able to receive follow-ups on their cases.
The Rebirth agency is guided by several social policies that ensure the smooth running of operations daily. One of the policies includes the mandates and requirements of government entities such as Medicaid and the Department of Community Health, which are frequently reviewed and changed. The policies relate to the kind of services provided, the number of staff required and their qualifications, and reimbursement guidelines. Some policies determine the mental health provision for incarcerated individuals, especially when patients become incarcerated while receiving treatment and are no longer eligible as they serve their time. The lack of treatment during confinement is detrimental to the overall outcome of the treatment goals of individuals (Beck et al., 2019). It becomes a challenge since most of these patients may not get back to the treatment procedures when they need them the most.
Rebirth counseling center engages diverse populations throughout its operations since the focus is on improving the whole health and wellness of people and their families. Information on the services offered is provided to all people in all areas to make everyone aware that they are welcome to receive the benefits. The agency calls out racism and other forms of discrimination as a mental health issue and continues to fight it by encouraging love, harmony, and acceptance. There are policies present to promote equity, especially in the services provided and how they are delivered. Furthermore, the agency discourages stigma and all other forms of social exclusion for people with mental illness because of the negative effects it has on them (Yin et al., 2020). Early death has been linked to mental illness and social isolation in many cases, which limits help-seeking and access to health care.
The three main organizational policies considered relevant in providing services by the agency are ethics in the medical field. The social workers and therapists are trained on many levels of ethics in an ongoing process because they have to make numerous decisions that affect people’s lives. Most importantly, they are to ensure that all clients are protected and their rights are maintained. In addition, safety and security that ensure the confidentiality of patient information are vital. For instance, psychotherapy notes recorded by a health care provider during a counseling session must be separated from other patient records and can only be disclosed with authorization. Confidentiality is important because it promotes trust and privacy in the healthcare system by preventing the misuse of confidential information.
The health providers apply various tools to help community members overcome societal barriers and challenges. For example, they may use behavioral health assessments and screenings to understand their patients better to be able to set and measure goals during treatment (Rogers et al., 2021). Additionally, the application of evidence-based interventions helps to yield practical long-term benefits for the clients. The health care professionals are taught how to use different therapeutic interventions based on the level of treatment needed for their patients. Elements used in assessment include physical examinations, interviews, laboratory tests, and written or verbal tests. Aspects such as addiction, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and other personality disorders, which are discovered after tests, assist the health providers in creating a personalized profile for each patient.
Moreover, they assist people in becoming more self-sufficient through continuous community support groups and partnerships. People are taught how to accept themselves and express their feelings whenever they are overwhelmed. In this way, more community members benefit and can encourage each other through the process. The organization fosters discretion of an individual’s preferred treatment location and the modality of the services delivered. Adults and adolescent children form the higher percentage of patients that visit the organization to seek medication.
The organization conducts a quarterly internal assessment to measure the effectiveness of various treatment methods. Client medical records which are well-recorded and stored are randomly sampled and analyzed to improve quality. The agency performs client and stakeholder satisfaction surveys, while Medicaid conducts audits every six to twelve months on the organization’s planning, billing, and documentation. Staff credentials are reviewed, and interviews are carried out involving staff, patients, and their families. The agency can allocate resources to various units more appropriately through internal and external auditing. The shortage of well-skilled professionals is addressed, thus reducing the workload and improving efficiency in operations.
Adequate financing of sustainable mental health programs is crucial for their maintenance. Rural mental health programming is funded differently, especially by the federal government (Underwood, 2019). Many religious groups, academic institutions, and other nonprofit organizations such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness also help by providing the required financial support to mental health institutions. Rebirth medical center primarily relies on Medicaid funds and other federal funds. These entities further encourage community-based care compared to institution care to save cost. This has become necessary due to the rising number of individuals with severe mental problems compared to the available resources in hospitals.
I have learned that the organization genuinely cares for its patients and the community at large since it extends exceptional services and benefits to all members, young and old. Moreover, the agency supports human rights and equality and encourages community participation in caring for people with mental health problems. Changes that would significantly help in improving daily operations may include focusing on the workplace mental health of all the professionals in the agency due to the psychological impact that the work environment can have on them. Incentives to further motivate the health care providers can be developed to make them more committed to ensuring client satisfaction.
The agency can better serve the community in many ways to improve the state of mental health of patients and their families. For example, the directors can push the concerned health authorities to ensure that access to mental health care is easy and affordable. Supporting Medicaid expansion and other proposals to lower the restricted access to coverage and treatment would significantly improve the situation (Kohn et al., 2018). In addition, the organization can increase the number of mental health specialists at the community level to reach more people and avail their services.
Moreover, creating more mental health awareness programs primarily through social media platforms would help ensure that mental health conditions are prevented and treated long before they reach the critical extent. Through cell phones and tablets, the public, doctors, and researchers can easily exchange information that would help monitor patients’ progress and increase their comprehension of the importance of mental well-being. Furthermore, health care professionals can share information and advice states on implementing school-based health education, youth peer support groups, and in-school mental health services (Balcombe & Leo, 2021). Creating awareness and assistance through support groups provides hope, knowledge, and practical skills in self-care to people with long-term mental health needs on their journey to recovery.
The agency is adaptable to changes within the community because it acknowledges that the number of people struggling with mental illness is increasing due to the pressures of modern life. To help in managing the situation, the organization has developed many programs to engage and train community members on how to prevent and handle mental disorders. The center’s directors encourage the community and government to provide support employment programs, housing services, and legislative protections for people with mental illness to reduce mental health stigma. However, there are several unmet needs in the community, such as in the care of homeless individuals who are prone to mental illness, suicide, substance abuse, and a reduced life expectancy. There is also a shortage of medical professionals, and therefore, it takes longer for people to get adequate assistance.
Mental health includes emotional, social, and psychological well-being, and the relationships between people, stress management methods, and healthy choices depend on a person’s mental health. This wellness enables people to realize their full potential, work productively, and contribute to their communities. Conclusively, it is important to avail inclusive and accessible services to people struggling with mental illness to create a conducive environment for them to recover and thrive.
References
Balcombe, L., & Leo, D. (2021). Digital mental health challenges and the horizon ahead for solutions. JMIR Mental Health. 8(3), 4-12.
Beck, A., Page, C., Buche, J., Schoebel, V., & Wayment, C. (2019). Behavioral health service provision by primary care physicians. University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center. 15(3), 5-16.
Kohn, R., Ali, A., Polanco, V., Fiqueroa, C., & Lopez, V. (2018). Mental health in the Americas: An overview of the treatment gap. International Journals of Mental Health Systems. 42(8), 11.
Rogers, R., Hartigan, S., & Sanders, C. (2021). Identifying mental disorders in primary care: Diagnostic accuracy of the Connected Mind Fast Check (CMFC) electronic screen. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings. 28(4), 22-25.
Underwood, E. (2019). Mental health awareness: Resources for everyone. College and Research Libraries News. 80(10), 13.
Yin, M., Li, Z., & Zhou, C. (2020). Experience of stigma among family members of people with severe mental illness: A qualitative systematic review. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 29(2), 6-10.