Services

LCMH provides a comprehensive range of services designed to address the complex needs of people recovering from mental illness.

In an emergency contact any LCMH phone number listed here for 24 hour emergency services or call 911.

	North County Services
	South County Services
	Children and Family Services
	Medication and Psychiatry
	Namaqua Center Programs

EMERGENCY SERVICES
The Center maintains an emergency service that is operational 24 hours per day including weekends, holidays, and evenings. Care coordination, as a part of the overall plan of services to the client, is included in the provision of emergency services. Emergency services are available to children, adolescents, adults, elderly and minority populations. Requests for services

CONNECTIONS
The Health District of Northern Larimer County, in partnership with the Larimer Center for Mental Health (LCMH), provides information, referral and assistance for residents of Northern Larimer County during hours of operation Monday through Friday. The Connections program offers telephone and face-to-face screening for routine, urgent and emergency requests, as well as maintaining a community database for referral to therapy services. Connections makes direct referral to the Larimer Center as well as to community clinicians providing affordable services. Referrals can also be made to the Health District for limited psychiatric assistance.

ADULT CLINICAL TEAM
This Team provides evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and care coordination to adults between the ages of 18 and 60 in Northern Larimer County. Services include the mobilization and integration of supportive resources to assist the consumer in maintaining or enhancing quality of life. Consumers and care coordinators plan together to achieve higher levels of functioning in work or school environments, in family or social relationships and in daily living activities. Individual and group treatments in a variety of topic areas are offered to all active consumers. Psychiatric services include evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, referral, medication evaluation, medication management, and emergency services to clients who are suffering from a diagnosed major mental illness or are experiencing an emotional crisis that constitutes a psychiatric emergency.

INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT
Case Management involves activities that are intended to ensure that consumers receive needed services, that services are coordinated, and that services are appropriate to the consumer's stated desires over time.

CLINICAL CARE COORDINATOR
Larimer Center for Mental Health (LCMH) Clinical Care Coordinator manages all inpatient services for LCMH adult and senior clients. This includes assessment, referral and services assisting in movement to a less restrictive environment.

INTEGRATED COMMUNITY SUPPORT
A number of community opportunities are provided through this integrated area of the Center. Areas include residential treatment, housing assistance programming, Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH), Spirit Crossing Clubhouse/vocational services, multicultural services and Pre-admission Screening/ Resident Review (PASRR).

• CHOICE HOUSE, located at 214 South Whitcomb, Fort Collins, Colorado. Room, board and 24-hour supervision are provided in a safe, structured environment. Intense staff support is provided as an alternative to hospitalization and as a means to provide structure and support for transition to semi-independent or independent living.
• PROMISE HOUSE, located at 218 South Whitcomb, Fort Collins, Colorado. Center staff provides regular daily supervision at this facility. This facility provides semi-independent living to its residents who assume primary responsibility for managing their daily lives and attending to their basic needs.
• SRO's (Single Room Occupancy) are residences for single adults over the age of 18. Three separate units have been established to serve the needs of the homeless population in Larimer County. The SRO's are owned and operated by Fort Collins Housing Authority and funded with federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) dollars. The independent residents pay rent in the amount of 30% of their annual income.
• SUBSIDIZED HOUSING PROGRAM (HUD) Section 8 certificates are administered by LCMH staff and are used at various apartment locations in the community as well as in the Project Based assistance units, located with a four-plex at 1216 Maple in Fort Collins. Subsidized housing is available to LCMH consumers who live independently with minimal supervision. Care Coordination assistance is available.
• TRANSITIONAL HOUSING is a grant administered by Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and shared with other North Range agencies to provide two years of subsidized housing and intensive case management to assist people who are homeless and who have a mental illness in becoming independent.
• SHELTER PLUS CARE is a grant through Supportive Housing and Homeless Programs for people who are homeless to receive permanent housing vouchers and case management.
• PROJECTS FOR ASSISTANCE IN TRANSITION FROM HOMELESSNESS (PATH) Northeast Behavioral Health and LCMH share funding in a program with staff dedicated to provide care coordination and clinical intervention to homeless individuals. Most services are provided off-site in those locations frequented by homeless persons.
• SPIRIT CROSSING CLUBHOUSE AND VOCATIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS are located at 251 Jefferson in Fort Collins. Clubhouse activities are open to active consumers of LCMH. The Clubhouse is a certified Model of Rehabilitation with the International Center for Clubhouse Development. Vocational support includes transitional employment, supported employment and job development, career counseling, supported education, and job-seeking skills training. Clubhouse members and staff operate the facility jointly. Clubhouse work-ordered day activities include preparing and serving lunch daily, clerical and retail work, computer and data entry, newsletter publishing, and facility maintenance. Recovery oriented activities include weekly socials and recreational outings, wellness classes, fundraising, consumer advocacy, community education and program development responsibilities.
• CHOICES CAFÉ is our drop-in center which is consumer run and staff supported. It is a safe place for consumers of LCMH to come for social interaction and fun.
• ABC (Acquisition of Benefits Committee) Many LCMH consumers are in need of Social Security benefits (SSI or SSDI). This team has been trained to streamline the application process in order to increase the likelihood of a successful application.
• PRE-ADMISSION SCREEN RESIDENT REVIEW (PASRR) Persons referred to a nursing facility must be screened prior to admission to determine whether or not a psychiatric diagnosis is present. It must be determined whether the person requires mental health services prior to admission or requires special services while in the nursing facility due to mental illness. The Center serves as a "fact finder" for the Professional Review Organization (PRO), acting through contract with the State Department of Human Services.
• MULTICULTURAL SERVICES include an array of services within and outside of LCMH. Multicultural staff assist the agency in demonstrating its commitment to cultural competency through the coordination and presentation of intra-agency training opportunities as well as promoting the appreciation of diversity outside the agency. Programming includes strengthening Latino Families, support groups in Spanish and interpretive and case management services on and off-site.

COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES
Several programs combine to form the Community Based Services area. They include Senior Services, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)-based service, and Foothills Gateway clinicians.

• SENIOR SERVICES are provided to Larimer County residents 60 years of age and up. Services are often provided in the home, including nursing facilities. Care Coordination and individual treatment are offered to active consumers, as well as consultation and training in areas of Mental Health and aging for Nursing Facility staff.
• TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) clinicians are contracted by the Larimer County Workforce Center to provide services on-site in Workforce Center offices. TANF clinicians provide individual and group work for Workforce participants as well as domestic violence screening, a variety of self-help and skills groups and workshops and provide consultation to Workforce staff.
• FOOTHILLS GATEWAY clinicians are contracted to provide on-site service to individuals with developmental disabilities. Specialty services include anger management groups, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy groups, men's and women's issue groups, as well as individual work. Consultation is provided to Foothills staff. Annual psychiatric reviews are provided to Gateway participants who are not active consumers with the Mental Health Center.
• COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PARTNERSHIP LCMH has contracted with Larimer County Community Corrections (LCCC) to provide pre-trial release and post-sentence diversion programming for consumers involved in the legal system. These consumers experience mental illness and may also experience co-occurring substance diagnoses. These consumers would better benefit from community placement than detention. Programming includes daily case management, medication monitoring, and group activity. These services are offered in the venue of a newly remodeled activity center, called Choices Café. Integrated team members from LCMH and LCCC are co-located at Choices Café, as well as performing services at Community Corrections and the Detention Center.

OUTPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES
The South County Team provides outpatient services to adults, children, and families in Loveland and Estes Park. Services include evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, case management, referral, medication evaluation, medication management, and emergency services to clients who are suffering from a diagnosed major mental illness or are experiencing an emotional crisis that constitutes a psychiatric emergency, and to children or adolescents and their families who are experiencing emotional or behavioral difficulties. Interventions include individual, group, family, and couples therapy.

LOVELAND COUNSELING CONNECTIONS
Loveland Counseling Connections (LCC) is an information and referral service for low and moderate income individuals, couples, children, and families in need of mental health counseling. Clients who qualify based on income are referred to local participating therapists who agree to provide services on a sliding-fee scale. LCC staff also provide pro bono counseling services to those that cannot afford the sliding-fee scale so that no one in need of treatment is denied services. LCC staff work closely with the medical staff at our host agency, Loveland Community Health Center (LCHC), providing crisis intervention, consultation, and follow-up for patients who present with both mental health and primary health problems. Larimer Center for Mental Health also donates psychiatric services to the clinic for four hours per week. This is the only service of its kind in Loveland, helping people who might otherwise not receive treatment or be forced to access it through the emergency room, inpatient mental care, or in the criminal justice system.

In addition, Connections administers the Groups in Schools Program in which local therapists provide group therapy in Thompson School District schools based on referrals of at-risk students. Topics include social skills, anger management, grief and loss, divorce, and substance abuse. The Groups in Schools Program has proven effective in increasing school attendance, increasing grades, and in reducing disruptive, problematic behaviors. The ratio of students to counselors in the Thompson School District is much higher than the nationally recommended standard. As a result, school counselors are quite limited in the services that they can provide to individual students in need of counseling. The Groups in Schools Program helps fill this need and, in so doing, augments what the school counselors can provide.

LOVELAND APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR THE HOMELESS MENTALLY ILL
The apartment complex is a seven unit apartment designed to provide low-cost housing for mentally ill consumers who are homeless but are capable of independent living. This was made possible through funding from Larimer Center for Mental Health, a HUD Grant, and a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the City of Loveland. Both therapy and intensive case management services are provided to the residents to assist them in maintaining independent living.

The Child and Family Team (C&F) is committed to providing therapeutic and case management services for children and adolescents with severe emotional and/or behavioral issues. The Team works closely with families to keep youth in their homes whenever possible, or in the least restrictive environment, with particular emphasis on keeping youth close to their home and community. Staff focuses on individual and family strengths. To maximize benefits for clients, family involvement and interagency collaboration are a significant emphasis.

PARENT FAMILY ADVOCATE
The Parent/Family Advocate is on site at the Child and Family Offices. The Advocate provides an ongoing support/psycho education group for parents of children diagnosed with mental illness. The Advocate provides support for parents who need help with Individualized Education Plans (IEP) for their children. Families are encouraged to contact the Parent Family Advocate regarding grievances.

CLINICAL CARE COORDINATOR
The Clinical Care Coordinator is responsible for all youth receiving higher levels of care including day treatment, residential treatment and hospitalization. The Clinical Care Coordinator is responsible for doing 27-10 evaluations (evaluations for Suicidal, Homicidal or gravely disabled persons) and HB1116 evaluations for youth who need to be evaluated for residential treatment.

OUTPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES
Clinicians on the Child and Family Team have specific training, experience and expertise in evaluation and treatment of children, adolescents and their families. All outpatient services include family involvement with treatment. Clinical expertise includes family therapy, play therapy with young children, group therapy, and individual therapy. Therapists are trained in child and adolescent mental health issues; working with youth who have experienced neglect, abuse, trauma, and attachment issues; behavior management of children; working with parents to enhance their skills; and case management so that children, adolescents and their families are receiving relevant resource input in the most coordinated and beneficial manner.

MENTAL HEALTH CORE SERVICES
The Mental Health Core Service Program is a special project developed by the Larimer County Department of Human Services (DHS), Child Welfare section. Larimer Center for Mental Health (LCMH) is contracted with the Department of Human Services to provide therapeutic services to their clients, including both adults and children.

THE HUB ASSESSMENT CENTER
In collaboration with the Department of Human Services (DHS), an LCMH therapist provides mental health assessments, mediation and brief therapy to families accessing the HUB, the single point of entry for DHS services.

YOUTH FOSTER HOME PROGRAM
This program is in partnership with the Department of Human Services and provides specialized services for county foster homes with adolescents. LCMH provides a therapist who works closely with foster parents to help maintain the stability of the homes and provides therapeutic services to any youth who need them.

NATIONAL YOUTH PROGRAM USING MINIBIKES (NYPUM)
In partnership with the Department of Human Services, the National Youth Program Using Minibikes (NYPUM) is a behaviorally based program for youth 10-15 years old that teaches them to ride mini-bikes. The youth set three goals per week and the successful completion of these goals earns them riding time. This group uses the principles of restorative justice and positive peer culture coupled with family therapy to make effective interventions with children who are at risk of being placed out of their homes.

RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT COORDINATOR
This partnership with the Department of Human Services (DHS) provides an LCMH therapist and a DHS staff person to provide utilization management and step-down service planning for all youth that are receiving residential services through the DHS.

MULTI SYSTEMIC THERAPY (MST)
MST is an evidenced based, intensive home-based family therapy program designed specifically for juvenile offenders and their families. MST works with the family's whole ecology to use natural supports rather than formal systemic supports as levers for change and on-going progress. MST has approximately 30 years of research providing data about what kind of interventions are effective with this population. The MST team at Larimer Center consists of 4.0 therapists and 1.0 supervisor. Each therapist carries 5 cases and spends between 3-6 hours per week with each family. Treatment lasts on average for 5 months, but goals are set at the beginning and when the goals are met with evidence of sustainability, the case is closed. The team is on-call 24/7 to the families. The team does supervision together to insure strict adherence to the model and that all therapists are aware of each other's cases. Supervision is followed up by a one-hour consultation with an MST expert from MST Services in Denver. The MST program works with families whose kids are at risk of commitment or out of home placement, families who have been unsuccessful in other treatment programs and families who do not want services (commonly labeled "resistant"). The MST therapists have a very high level of accountability to the model, the supervisor and the consultant.

FUNCTIONAL FAMILY THERAPY (FFT)
FFT is an outcome-driven and evidence based prevention/intervention program for youth who have demonstrated the entire range of maladaptive, acting out behaviors and related syndromes. FFT targets youth, aged 11-18, at risk for and/or presenting with delinquency, violence, substance use, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or Disruptive Behavior Disorder. FFT requires as few as 8-12 hours of direct service time for commonly referred youth and their families, and generally no more than 26 hours of direct service time for the most severe problem situations. FFT can be provided by one and two person teams to clients in-home, clinic, juvenile court, and at time of re-entry from institutional placements. FFT treats the entire family together based on the belief that systemic change is the most effective way to bring about change in the adolescent's behavior.

EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM (ECP)
ECP serves children aged 0-9, and their parents, in both outpatient and home based settings. This program also provides consultation and education to community based day cares and early childhood programs.

PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES
LCMH has a board certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist to provide medication evaluations and medication monitoring to all individuals receiving services from LCMH Child and Family Team.

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Child and Family provides from 3 - 5 internships per year for Master's Level graduate students.

• Family Forum is a parent education and support group for parents of children with mental health or behavioral issues. Transportation and child care are also provided.
• Equine Group therapy uses riding skills and the skills learned in the care of horses to manage behaviors in youth.
• Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a program in which volunteers in the community use their certified pet therapy dogs to work with youth who have identified behaviors that can be addressed with the therapy dogs.

The Center provides services under the general medical and clinical supervision of the Medical Director, who also serves as the Center's Clinical Director. The Center's Medical Staff provide psychiatric consultation to the Center staff, case conferences, psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, medication management and prescriptions. In addition, the Medical Director provides oversight and management of the inpatient services and care which are available to Center clients. The Medical Director provides leadership to the consultants, all Medical Staff, and general psychiatric and clinical leadership to the Center as a whole.

PRESCRIBING MEDICATIONS
Medication evaluation and monitoring services are provided to all Larimer Center for Mental Health (LCMH) clients. These services may be in conjunction with therapeutic interventions or may stand alone if the client is stable and not needing ongoing therapeutic services. Center Medical Staff prescribe only "psychiatric" medications (medications prescribed specifically to address psychiatric symptoms/illnesses). As a rule, Medical Staff do not prescribe "general" medications such as antibiotics, thyroid medications or "hormone" medications. These latter medications are considered to be more properly prescribed by the family physician or other specialists. The use of medications is not a prerequisite for Center services. Clients will not be denied access to other services as a result of their reluctance to use medications.

MEDICATION SUPPORT PROGRAM
The following are descriptions of medication support efforts of the Center.

• The State Medications Subsidy Program The General Assembly approved monies to be distributed to the mental health centers to be used for the purchase of medication for needy persons who would not otherwise take medications due to financial hardship. The Medication Subsidy Program is not to supplant the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Indigent Patient Programs or the use of sample medications. The State Medication Subsidy Program is limited by appropriation and is not guaranteed.
• Sample Medications The Center receives samples of medications from various pharmaceutical companies, which may be prescribed by the Center Medical Staff. There is no charge to the clients for sample medications. Samples may be given for only short trial periods or to indigent clients.
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Indigent Patient Programs The Center, through Medical Staff, is able to assist qualified clients in applying for prescription assistance through the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Indigent Patient Programs. Some of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers make their medications available free-of-charge to clients that do not have the means to pay for them. The client is assisted in completing the appropriate Manufacturers application. If approved, prescriptions may be supplied at no cost to the client for a period of time, varying between companies and the specific medication.

HOSPITALIZATION
This service can be accessed by way of emergency assessments during business hours by either walking into the office for an assessment by the on-call therapist or by contacting the Clinical Care Coordinator for an on-site evaluation. After business hours, evaluations can occur by contacting our after-hours on-call therapist.

The Namaqua Center, located at 404 East 7th Street in Loveland, provides quality treatment services to severely emotionally disturbed children and their families through a full spectrum of services.

Special Education Services - The mission of the Namaqua Center School is to provide a positive, safe learning atmosphere for our students. This is accomplished through a structured school setting and a therapeutic environment that includes positive reinforcement and the teaching of replacement behaviors. The on-grounds school program and top-notch staff are able to meet the wide variety of educational needs students can present, including the needs of children with Individual Education Plans (IEPs), Significant Identifiable Emotional Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, and/or Speech and Occupational Therapy needs.

Residential Treatments - Children admitted to this program have been removed from their homes because they posed a threat to themselves or to others, or because their homes were unsafe/unstable, range in age from three to twelve years old, and are struggling with severe emotional disturbances that are often caused by abuse and/or traumatic experiences. Children are referred to this program through the Departments of Human Services, Mental Health and the school districts. Special education teachers provide individual and group attention to help fill in their learning gaps. Intensive counseling to intact families is provided to strengthen the family.

Day Treatment - Provides the educational, social, and therapeutic needs for emotionally traumatized children. The therapeutic support includes counselors, therapists, and monthly psychiatric visits. Special education is provided for children who would otherwise slip through the cracks in the public school system.

Outpatient Services - Provided to individuals and families by licensed clinical psychologists, licensed professional counselors and licensed marriage and family therapists. Services include: individual and family therapy, individual psychological assessment for children and adults, family interaction and attachment evaluations, court-ordered evaluation and expert testimony, and can also act as an intervention for families to help them learn new coping skills in an effort to keep their children from needing to be placed in Residential or Day Treatment services.