On staff are five state certified therapists trained in counseling and treatment. They specialize in marriage and child therapy, case management for the elderly, probation, education, and child sex abuse. Also a dual diagnostic therapist works with Mental Health and with Drug and Alcohol programs. There are two part-time psychiatrists on contract to prescribe medication. All Mental Health office staff is trained in crisis situations including suicide prevention.
The Department of Mental Health provides clinical services for adults and children in the community. Therapy is provided for low income families on a sliding fee scale. Mental Health also provides educational services to community groups, schools, and employee organizations. Referrals are received from other county agencies, doctors, schools, law enforcement, the hospital, drug and alcohol programs and Operation Care.
Operation Care, a non-profit crisis intervention center, mans a 24- hour crisis hot line. Volunteers receive calls and then refer them to the appropriate county agency. When the Mental Health office is closed, their telephone recording refers clients to call Operation Care. Operation Care answers and then pages the Mental Health therapist who is "on-call" on a rotating basis.
If Mental Health does not respond within 30 minutes, the call is handled by the volunteer. These volunteers receive up to 40 hours of formal training.
Calls to the Mental Health Department should not be screened by Operation Care volunteers with limited training.