Western CT Mental Health Network - Waterbury Area
95 Thomaston Avenue
Waterbury, CT 06702
203-805-5300, 203-805-5310 (FAX)
The Western CT Mental Health Network - Waterbury Area (WCMHN-Waterbury 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 Waterbury area. The WCMHN-Waterbury Area is one of DMHAS' local authorities in the state. The Greater Waterbury area includes Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott and Woodbury.
WCMHN-Waterbury Area - Operated Programs
Access Center: Intake Services/Mobile Crisis: The Access Center is an information and referral source for individuals with psychiatric and related substance issues. Access Center staff interview and assess individuals requesting services from the WCMHN-Waterbury Area. This service is extended to identified (WCMHN-Waterbury authorized) medically indigent individuals admitted to the Behavioral Health Unit at Waterbury Hospital. Access Center staff are also available to perform intake/assessment by referral or walk-in in order to determine service needs and treatment options for an individual.
Information: Any individual can contact the Access Center through the Hotline for assistance in identifying suitable community resources that best accommodate a person's needs and to answer behavioral health questions. The Hotline operates twenty-four (24) hours a day/seven days a week. If a referral for services is indicated, an intake clinician is contacted and arrangements made for an appointment.
Telephone Service: Assessment and support are offered to individuals contacting the Access Center Hotline regarding potential crisis situations. A plan is developed by identifying stressors and reviewing options. Hours: Twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven days a week. Toll free telephone number: 1-866-794-0021; Regional Hotline: 1-888-447-3339.
Outreach Service: The Access Center staff assists callers in determining the need for an outreach and the possible activation of the Mobile Outreach Team in situations requiring on-site emergency evaluations. Hours are 8:00 am to 12:00 am, seven days a week.
Intake: A Request for Service is reviewed through an in-depth evaluation and assessment to determine the level of service indicated. Referrals are determined with the individual's participation, and appointments are arranged. The intake staff maintains contact with the individual throughout this process until the receiving program begins providing services.
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.
Recovery Support Services Program: The Recovery Support Services Program (RSSP) offers individuals opportunities to engage in their own recovery through activities and support services that encourage, teach, and model community living skills, self-understanding and self-reliance. Through the Discovery Center and community settings the RSSP staff provides individuals with a variety of educational and support activities that encourage recovery by promoting hope, purpose, and personal and supportive relationships. The RSSP also provides peer engagement services for persons who are difficult to engage using traditional services, money management services for individuals who are experiencing problems managing their entitlement income. The Discovery Center is a collaborative program with Human Resources Development (HRD).
Clinical Services Division: The Clinical Services Division (CSD) supports individuals' recovery and wellness through clinical support services including: pharmacotherapy, medication monitoring and supervision, medication education, health care support, psychotherapies, and consultation. The services offered by the CSD begin with a comprehensive psychiatric assessment and collaborative treatment planning.
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Community Care Program: The Western Connecticut Mental Health Network offers services regionally to persons 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.
Respite Services: The Respite Program provides short-term residential care for individuals who are homeless, awaiting acceptance to services, or are leaving the hospital. The Respite Program is operated collaboratively with the Waterbury Hospital Crisis Service.
Homeless Outreach Services: The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) provides services to homeless individuals and families. Through outreach to local homeless shelters, abandoned buildings, cars and other places where homeless persons congregate, HOT case workers engage, assess and refer individuals for needed services. The WCMHN-Waterbury Area HOT is a collaborative program with Waterbury Hospital.
Individuals in Recovery Initiatives: Peer Support Programs include companion services and a warmline. Specifically trained individuals in recovery (Companions) provide companion services on a one-to-one basis to peers who may be isolating or in need of socialization. The Warmline, a non hot-line phone service, is answered by peers who provide a listening ear to callers every evening from 5 PM to 10 PM.
Jail Diversion Program: The Jail Diversion Program represents the collaboration of Waterbury Court (GA-4), Bantam Court (GA-18), Danbury Court (GA-3) and the Western Connecticut Mental Health Network (WCMHN) to better identify and facilitate clinical alternatives to incarceration for defendants with mental and substance abuse disorders. When appropriate, these services facilitate continuation of treatment, timely referrals and linkage to treatment services in the community and in jail. Licensed mental health professionals located in regional courthouses provide assessment and referral to clinical services for persons 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 individuals and a community services provider.
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT): The Crisis Intervention Team works directly with the Waterbury police officers to de-escalate situations involving people with behavioral health disorders. By pairing these mental health professionals with police officers, the CIT program provides greater opportunities to avoid arrest and criminal justice involvement by immediate assessment of mental health service needs and linkages to community resources.
Contracted Programs
The WCMHN-Waterbury Area has contracts with the following agencies in the Greater Waterbury area: Catholic Charities, Center for Human Development, Connecticut Naugatuck Valley Help, Inc., Guardian Ad Litem Services, Inc., Human Resource Development, The Kennedy Center Inc., Mental Health Association, St. Mary's Hospital, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Supportive Environmental Living Facility, Inc. (SELF) and Waterbury Hospital.
Residential Support Services: Residential Support Services help individuals receiving DMHAS-funded services to find and keep the housing they choose. They also provide case management services such as treatment planning, referral to other services, advocacy and direct care. An individual receiving services from a residential program will get help to develop skills that are needed to live in the community, such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, hygiene, and budgeting. In addition to these Residential Services, individuals may also get help with short-term housing when they do not have entitlements. Services are also open to individuals who have a need for short-term support. Programs may provide services up to 24-hours per day, seven days per week, depending on the needs of the individual. The agencies that provide housing services in the Greater Waterbury area are Center for Human Development, Connecticut Naugatuck Valley Help, Inc., Mental Health Association, Supportive Environmental Living Facility, Inc. (SELF) and St. Vincent DePaul Society.
Employment Services: The goal of Employment Services is to help people in recovery find and maintain permanent employment. The services support individuals to find employment opportunities in places that meet the needs and wants of individuals served. Employment Services also creates conditions through education, training, and support to assist individuals achieve their goals and obtain respect and dignity within the community. The programs providing employment services in the Greater Waterbury area are The Kennedy Center Inc. and Mental Health Association, Inc. - Choices.
Supported Education Services: Supported Education Services provide assistance, support and coaching needed to facilitate the access, participation and completion of academic or technical courses needed for employment in an array of educational situations including, but not limited to, community colleges, universities, adult education (e.g. GED, ESL, computer literacy) and technical training schools. The program providing Supported Education services in the Greater Waterbury area is Mental Health Association, Inc.
Psychosocial Services: Psychosocial Services help individuals by providing opportunities for improving social and interpersonal skills. The services vary but may include pre-employment activities, social functions, dinners, dances, field trips, educational events, recreation, advocacy, voter registration and other peer support activities.
The Mental Health Association, through its Independence Center in Waterbury, provides these services for its members. The Discovery Drop-In Center is a social club for clients and it is a joint program between the WCMHN-Waterbury Area and Human Resources Development.
Outpatient Services: Outpatient Services provide psychiatric assessment, treatment planning, medication prescription, and therapy. Services are provided by appointment. Agencies providing these services in the Greater Waterbury area are Waterbury Hospital's Department of Behavioral Health, St. Mary's Hospital's Department of Behavioral Health and Catholic Charities.
Homeless Outreach Services: The Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) staff provides assessment and referral for homeless individuals. Staff provides case management services and work with individuals in shelters and other places where homeless persons are found. The HOT Program is a joint program between the WCMHN-Waterbury Area and Waterbury Hospital Crisis Service.
Case Management: Case management services are provided at Catholic Charities in Waterbury for Spanish speaking individuals. These services include assessment, treatment planning, referral to needed services, advocacy and direct care. Catholic Charities also provides outpatient individual and group clinical services for individuals referred by other DMHAS funded community programs.
Crisis Services: Crisis Services help individuals who are in need of immediate care and support. These services evaluate and treat individuals who are in a crisis. If individuals cannot come to the Crisis Center, staff can go to the individual to complete an evaluation. Crisis services are available 24-hours per day, seven days per week. Western CT Mental Health Netwok provides Crisis services for the Greater Waterbury area. Crisis HotLine # 1-866-794-0021.
Guardian Ad Litem Services: Guardian Ad Litem Services, Inc. (GALS) provides intensive monitoring and reporting on the progress of persons 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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