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Welcome To Northern Lakes CMH. Provider and manager of public behavioral health care services and supports.
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Welcome To Northern Lakes CMH Provider and manager of public behavioral health care services and supports
What is Northern Lakes CMH?Our mission is to promote the behavioral health of our individuals, families and communities through programs that promote recovery, build resilience, create opportunity and improve quality of life.
The “Behavioral Health” term in our mission statement means we specifically help: • Adults with mental illness • Children with serious emotional disturbance • Individuals with developmental disabilities • People with substance use disorders
A Quick Clarification • Mental illness and developmental disabilities are not the same.
Mental illness is a term that refers collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders. • Mental disorders are health conditions that are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior (or some combination thereof), that are all mediated by the brain, and associated with distress and/or impaired functioning. • Some examples of mental illnesses include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia.
Mental illness does not discriminate. • Mental illness affects 1 in 5 Americans. • These disorders can occur in men, women and children of any age and in all races, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. • They can be the result of family history, genetics, or other biological, environmental, social, or behavioral factors that occur alone or in combination.
There is no “Quick Fix” for mental illness. • However, the CMH system has a wide array of services and supports which can help promote recovery and build resilience. • Our NLCMH system is involved in a transformation effort to become more recovery-oriented so that recovery is the expectation for people with mental illness.
Developmental Disabilities • Developmental disabilities result when the brain doesn’t develop or work the way that is typically expected. • Mental impairments make it very difficult to learn things. • Physical impairments may prevent people from being able to control their movements or to speak clearly. • Some developmental disabilities are a combination of both.
Developmental Disabilities • Appear before a person is 22 years of age. • Some examples of developmental disabilities are: learning disorders, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome. • There is no “cure” for developmental disability. • However, the CMH system has a wide array of supports and services to create opportunity and improve quality of life.
The Big Picture • Northern Lakes is one of 46 CMHs in the State of Michigan. The 6 Counties Northern Lakes serves are shown here in red.
The Big Picture • In addition, Northern Lakes, doing business as the Northwest CMH Affiliation, is one of 18 Pre-Paid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHPs) in the State of Michigan. • In this role, Northern Lakes serves as the manager for behavioral health services for Medicaid beneficiaries. • The 9 Counties in which Northern Lakes manages Medicaid services are shown here in purple.
What does CMH do? We cultivate hope. The hope that someone has when taking their first small step toward recovering from a mental illness.We nurture dreams – the dream of taking steps toward becoming gainfully employed or living independently.Simply put, what CMH does is grow human potential.
How does one access services?When you contact us you can expect prompt answers to your questions about our services and eligibility requirements. Priority is given to individuals with the most severe forms of serious mental illness, serious emotional disturbance, and developmental disability. Three areas affect decisions about your treatment: 1) Clinical condition, 2) Therapeutic appropriateness, and 3) Medical necessity.If you do not meet eligibility requirements as outlined in our contracts with the Michigan Department of Community Health, we will assist you with referral to other service providers.
What is the access process?A qualified Mental Health Professional will complete a telephone screening when you call to request services and, if you qualify, will arrange a face-to-face interview at a time and location convenient to you. Emergencies will be promptly addressed by professional staff from one of our local office locations.After your confidential interview, we will review your concerns and findings with you and help you decide on an appropriate course of care.
Then what happens?If you qualify and are interested in ongoing behavioral health services, we will link you to the programs and/or services best suited to your needs. In most cases we will arrange your first appointment within 14 days. We will also answer questions about your benefits and costs for services. We coordinate care with your doctor and your health plan to make sure the services you receive are efficient and effective.
What if I don’t qualify for ongoing services?Emergency mental health services are always available 24/7 for everyone who is experiencing a mental health crisis. You do not need to meet any eligibility requirements to be served in an emergency. If you do not meet eligibility requirements for ongoing services as outlined in our contracts with the Michigan Department of Community Health, we will explain why and we will assist you with referral to other service providers. For specific questions about eligibility requirements call our Access staff at 231-922-4850 or 800-49-ALPHA.
Services available to the general public• Information and referral• Crisis intervention and emergency services 24/7 (no eligibility requirements)• Community education• Recovery initiatives such as Learning Communities and art groups
What is Changing? Recovery – the expectation for people with mental illness
Northern Lakes CMH Definition of Recovery (created by our Recovery Council) Recovery is a personal journey of hope, purpose and growth. It is the process of setting our own directions in life. We accept the responsibilities of meeting challenges, using our own abilities, strengths and determination.
Some of our local Recovery initiatives include: • Integrated Co-Occurring Disorders Treatment • Family Psychoeducation Groups • Peer Support Specialists Recovery initiatives open to the public: • Recovery Learning Communities • Pathways to Recovery classes • WRAP classes (Wellness, Recovery, Action Plan) • Art classes
What needs to change? Person-First Language
I struggle daily with self-acceptance, trying to see myself as bright, pretty and kind. Often I see the opposite – dumb, ugly and mean. The energy that I spend trying to feel “normal” is huge, but it is what I want more than anything in the world – to be mentally and emotionally stable. Words are powerful!
Person-First Language is Respectful • It’s a way of showing the focus is on the person, not their disability. For example, use “person with schizophrenia” instead of “a schizophrenic.” • Person-First Language also emphasizes the ability, rather than disability. For example, it is correct to say that a person is “a wheelchair user,” or “uses a wheelchair,” not “is wheelchair-bound.” • Person-First Language helps to reduce the stigma attached to disability.
