Providing a range of responsive programs, COMHAR's behavioral health services treat individuals who need help coping with life stresses and those who live with chronic mental illness or addiction. The Behavioral Health Division's broad array of specialized programs addresses the needs of diverse populations, including the elderly, the Latino community, individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, and those who struggle with substance abuse.

Intake and Outpatient Services
Provides outpatient counseling for individuals who are experiencing difficulty coping with the stress of daily life and facilitates their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community, educational setting and workplace. Services include psychiatric evaluation; social history and assessment; psychological testing; individual, group and family psychotherapy; psychotropic medication assessment and monitoring; and evaluation of the need for other services and referrals.

COMHAR delivers care in a variety of comfortable and convenient settings that include agency facilities as well as public health centers and senior centers. Bilingual/bicultural staff serve the Latino community, while other specially trained staff serve the needs of elderly consumers, individuals who are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, or those who have drug and alcohol addictions.

For general intake, call Outpatient Services
215-427-5800
For Drug and Alcohol intake call
215-426-9530
For intake to Latino Services, call
215-739-2669

Outreach and Assessment Treatment Services (OATS)
This program is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts to provide outreach assessment and treatment services to individuals age 60 and above. The service is intended for elderly individuals who are diagnosed with a primary mental health disorder and have become isolated, withdrawn and will not attend more traditional treatment settings due to the stigma associated with care. The program also provides education and training to the elderly, their caregivers (such as family members) and physicians regarding the signs and symptoms of mental illness. The goal of this program is to provide services to the elderly in more natural environments (home, senior center, physician's office) in the community and avoid costly hospitalizations or institutional placements which are disruptive to consumers and their families. Services are available in English and Spanish. For information call 215-203-3027.

Open Door Clubhouse
A psychosocial rehabilitation day program based on the acclaimed Fountain House in New York City and the first program of its kind in Philadelphia, the Clubhouse empowers its members through daily participation in one of several work units. By taking responsibility for all tasks needed for the Clubhouse to function successfully, members learn valuable work skills; discover and develop their individual strengths, abilities and interests and build confidence enhancing both their work and personal lives. Members choose among clerical, kitchen, horticultural, art, education, transitional employment and independent employment work units. The goal of this program is for members to move from onsite work units to transitional and eventually to getting their own job.
To visit the Open Door Clubhouse, call 215-427-5763.

Intensive Day Treatment
Offers active-treatment day programs that aim to stabilize the client and avert hospitalization or reduce its length. It is also an alternative to inpatient hospitalization. Programs offer a comprehensive, integrated schedule of treatment approaches that serve individuals significantly impaired by psychiatric, emotional, social and behavioral disorders and those with a secondary drug and/or alcohol diagnosis. Specialized programs target younger or older adults and promote wellness and empowerment through a variety of treatment options. Services are available in both English and Spanish.
For more information about this treatment, call 215-427-5800.

Residential Services
Provides a continuum of care for the mentally ill consumers with a program that supports movement towards the least restrictive setting. In intensive residences, counselors in highly staffed shifts offer the strongest supports to help consumers maintain stability outside of inpatient psychiatric settings. These residences include Independence House, a long term structured residence (LTSR); the RITA Program for the more seriously mentally ill population; and Discovery House for the mental health/drug and alcohol population. Less intensive residences include Maximum Care with 24-hour reduced staffing and the Supported Independent Living Program with more limited supports for individuals in their own apartment setting. The goal of the program is to provide housing supports at whatever level is needed and to help individuals transition into the least restrictive setting, including their own housing. Individuals receiving residential services must be referred by Philadelphia's Office of Behavioral Health. For information call 215-203-3000.

Targeted Case Management
Helps clients achieve a stable, healthy and safe life in the community of their choice, reducing the need for psychiatric hospitalization and promoting more effective use of community supports. Resource Coordination supports clients' psychiatric stability through help in obtaining housing, medical treatment, rehabilitation services, social and recreational programs or financial and medical benefits. Intensive Case Management works with the adults more resistant to traditional treatment approaches who experience frequent use of psychiatric emergency services, multiple psychiatric hospitalization, periods of homelessness and/or inability to sustain prolonged stabilization of their psychiatric symptoms. Services are available in English and Spanish. The goal of the program is to keep individuals out of the hospital by providing support services and connecting to community supports. To receive Targeted Case Management, consumers must be referred by Office of Behavioral Health. For inforamtion call 215-427-6616.

Emergency Psychiatric Services
Provides emergency services for urgent crises through Temple University Hospital Crisis Response Center and Friends Hospital, where psychiatrists are available 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Temple and Friends provide crisis intervention, involuntary commitment petition examinations, psychiatric evaluations and examinations and arrangements for psychiatric hospitalization when necessary.

Choosing COMHAR's Services
Individuals can access most behavioral health services at COMHAR by referring themselves or by referral from family members or from hospitals, doctors, case managers, or other professional providers. To learn more about other COMHAR services, call 215-203-3000 or contact us at info@comhar.org.