Health Alliance (HA) Services

Services provided by the HA include:

• Dual diagnosis (both substance use and emotional issues) and mental health (MH) diagnoses,
• Outpatient MH treatment services, and
• Psychiatric services.

Note: Clients with only substance abuse diagnoses are referred to the Department of Alcohol and Drug Services (DADS).

Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Services

Outpatient behavioral health services are provided through the Community HA provider. Services include the following:

• Assessment
• Individual therapy
• Group counseling
• Family counseling
• Psycho-educational and support groups
• Case management, advocacy, and linkage
• Integrated services for health issues including Eastern medicine models.

Services vary from short-term to intensive treatment and are tailored to individual client needs. All services are designed to support the client in returning to work.

HA staff offer co-located services to introduce HA services to clients and meet with clients in one-on-one interventions to explain behavioral health services in more detail. HA staff conduct outreach presentations during the CalWORKs Employment Services (CWES) orientation and also are available at the Employment Connection Center (ECC), Adult Education Centers, Community Colleges, and other community-based partners.

Appropriate referrals to the HA are clients who have barriers or issues that are interfering with their ability to participate in employment-related activities. Some clients may have both MH and drug and alcohol issues (i.e., dual diagnosis).

Outpatient Mental Health Treatment Services

Longer-term, intensive outpatient MH and case management services are provided through the county’s CalWORKs Mental Health Services Team (MHST). Services are targeted toward adults and children with intensive, long-term MH issues such as depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Services are family focused and include psychiatric evaluations; medication monitoring; and individual, family, and group counseling.

Appropriate referrals to the HA are CalWORKs adults or children who have serious MH issues or who may have a dual diagnosis (i.e., have MH and drug and alcohol issues), and who are in need of more intensive, ongoing MH services.

Psychiatric Services

Psychiatric evaluations and ongoing medication monitoring are provided for clients who need these services.