Western CT Mental Health Network - Danbury Area
78 Triangle Street, Bldg. I-4
Danbury, CT 06810
203-448-3200, 203-448-3199 (FAX)
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The Western CT Mental Health Network - Danbury Area (WCMHN-Danbury Area), under the umbrella of the Western Connecticut Mental Health Network, is responsible for the clinical, fiscal and administrative oversight of state-operated and contracted agencies providing mental health services in the Greater Danbury area. The WCMHN-Danbury Area is one of DMHAS' local authorities in the state. The Greater Danbury area is comprised of Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Newtown, New Fairfield, New Milford, Redding, Ridgefield, Roxbury, and Sherman.
Triage/Intake Services: The Triage/Intake Team, as part of the outpatient department, interviews individuals asking for services of the WCMHN-Danbury Area. The Team registers individuals, decides the level of care and services needed, and evaluates the individuals admitted into the agency’s programs.
Transitional Housing Program: The Transitional Housing Program offers short term case management and housing for individuals who have problems with mental health and substance use, do not have a place to live, and who do not have money. In addition, the program also serves individuals who are not able to return to their current home, either by choice or because of the problems they have. Staff offers teaching of skills and connections to services in the community to help individuals to become more independent.
Jail Diversion Program: The Jail Diversion Program is a collaboration between Waterbury Court (GA-4), Bantam Court (GA-18) Danbury Court (GA-3) and the Western Connecticut Mental Health Network (WCMHN). The mission of the program is to identify and facilitate clinical alternatives to incarceration for defendants with mental and substance abuse disorders, when appropriate, and to facilitate continuation of treatment or timely referrals and linkage to treatment services, both in the community and in jail. Licensed mental health professionals located in regional courthouses provide immediate assessment and referral to clinical services for individuals with mental health and substance abuse disorders during pre-arraignment lock-up, while out on bond or on a Promise to Appear. Jail Diversion clinicians collaborate with court personnel to ensure that the individual's treatment needs are considered in determining a disposition. The clinician also provides linkage to community and Department of Correction treatment providers to address the individual's treatment needs. These court clinicians also refer to the spectrum of services offered by the Western Connecticut Mental Health Network and its contracted providers to find the best match between the individual and a community services provider.
Outpatient Services: The Outpatient Services Program staff provides psychiatric assessment, treatment planning, individual and group therapy, and medication monitoring. Additionally, the program provides services in regularly scheduled treatment sessions and includes individual, group, and family therapy.
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Program: The Western Connecticut Mental Health Network offers services regionally to individuals with acquired or traumatic brain injury (ABI/TBI). A Community Integration Specialist (social worker) provides assistance to ABI/TBI individuals by facilitating the initiation, coordination and implementation of community-based services. Eligible individuals access these services through referral. Consultation and advocacy are also offered as an integral part of the program.
Shelter Plus Care: The Shelter Plus Care Program provides rental assistance to persons/families that are homeless with disabilities.
The WCMHN-Danbury Area has contracts with the following agencies in the Greater Danbury Area: Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, Danbury Hospital Community Center for Behavioral Health, Ability Beyond Disability, Interlude, Mental Health Association of Connecticut and New Milford Hospital Mental Health Services, Guardian Ad Litem Services and Center for Human Development.
Residential Support Services: Residential Support Services are provided in individuals' own apartment or in supervised living settings. Residential services help individuals to find and keep the housing they choose. Residential Support Services also provide treatment planning, referral to other services and advocacy. Services provided help individuals develop and strengthen skills needed to live in the community. Based on the individual's needs services may include money management, budgeting, cooking, cleaning, shopping, hygiene, medication monitoring and use of leisure time. Supported and supervised Residential Services are provided in the Greater Danbury are through Interlude, Mental Health Association and Center for Human Development.
Employment Services: Employment Services help individuals to obtain and maintain employment of their choice. They provide support for individuals toward meeting their individual employment goal. This support includes assessment, job seeking, job placement, on the job support, career development and graduation. Each of these activities prepares individuals for independent employment. The agency providing service in the Greater Danbury area is Ability Beyond Disability.
Psychosocial Services: Psychosocial Services are those services which assist with social and interpersonal skills. These services address quality of life and support community living. The services vary but may include pre-employment activities, social functions, dinners, dances, field trips, educational events, recreation, leisure, advocacy, voter registration and peer support. Catholic Charities of Fairfield County through its New Heights Center in Danbury provides these services.
Mentorship/Warmline: The Mentorship Program provides 1:1 peer support. A mentor can assist an individual with socialization, community resources and goal setting.
The Warmline Program operates seven evenings per week from 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Operators will provide a friendly ear and can assist with loneliness, anxiety and sleeplessness. Operators also share their knowledge in regards to other community resources that are available. The Warmline is not a crisis line.
Catholic Charities of Fairfield County through its New Heights Center in Danbury provides this service.
Outpatient Services: Outpatient Services provide psychiatric assessment, treatment planning, medication prescription, and therapy. Services are provided by appointment but can be accessed during emergency situations.
Agencies providing Outpatient Services in the Greater Danbury Area are the Danbury Hospital Community Center for Behavioral Health (CCBH), New Milford Behavioral Health Services, (NMBHS) and Western CT Mental Health Network-Danbury Area.
Homeless Outreach Services: Homeless Outreach Team (HOT.) staff provides case finding, assessment and referral for homeless individuals. Staff provides case management services. They meet individuals in shelters and other places where homeless persons are found. The HOT. Program is operated by Catholic Charities of Fairfield County.
Community Support Programs (CSP): CSP services focus on building and maintaining a therapeutic relationship with the individual while delivering rehabilitative skill building interventions and activities. CSP services also facilitate connections to community recovery supports and emphasize individual choice, goals and recovery path. CSP includes a comprehensive range of rehabilitation services most of which are provided in non-office settings. Services are focused on skill building with a goal of maximizing self-management skills and independence. Community-based treatment enables the team to become intimately familiar with the individual's surroundings, strengths and challenges, and to assist the individual in learning skills applicable to the living environment. The team services and interventions are individualized and tailored to the needs and preferences of the individual.
Recovery Pathways (RP): RP services are for individuals who present with minimum levels of routine or intermittent support needs. Individuals at this level are generally active in the self-management of symptoms and/or active in the involvement with support services. Individuals in RP may have additional ongoing support needs such as medical or physical assistance. The goal of this level of care is to assist the individual in cultivating greater self-management and problem solving skills. In addition, staff will work with the individual on resolution of problematic situations, skill building towards improved self-sufficiency and improving connection with social and community supports.
Deaf/or Hard of Hearing: The Deaf or Hard of Hearing Clinical Treatment is a regional program that provides traditional case management services including: assessment, treatment planning, referral, advocacy and direct care. Interpreter services are requested when needed. These regional services may be accessed by clients of the WCMHN-Waterbury Area, WCMHN-Danbury Area and the WCMHN-Torrington Area.
Crisis Services: Crisis services help individuals deal with very difficult times. These services evaluate and treat individuals at a moment’s notice. If the individual cannot come to the Emergency Room at Danbury Hospital, staff can come to the individual for a field evaluation and if needed, arrange for transportation to the hospital. Crisis Services can be accessed 24 hours, seven days a week. Crisis Services can access temporary crisis beds or inpatient facilities, when individuals are assessed to be a danger to themselves or others. Psychiatric and nursing support services are available when needed. Danbury Hospital provides Crisis Services for the Greater Danbury Area. Crisis HotLine Toll Free # 1-888-447-3339.
Guardian Ad Litem Services: Guardian Ad Litem Services, Inc. (GALS) provides intensive monitoring and reporting on the progress of individuals with mental illness who receive state assistance and/or services. GALS acts as an extension of a court appointment agent (i.e., Conservator, Probation Officer, Jail Diversion) and assist in the collaboration and coordination of services as well as the implementation of treatment/discharge plans.
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