Agencies to Help Mentally Disabled People

In the past, mental disabilities were treated as an illness, and people with mental disabilities were treated in hospitals or asylums. Today, things have changed. More people are treated in the community setting through the use of public agencies. These agencies include community service boards, centers for recovery, centers for independent living and behavioral health clinics.

Community Service Boards

• A community service board, or CSB, is a public agency set up to provide services to people within a local community. A CSB is governed by a board of supervisors, comprising representatives from the community or communities it serves. Funding for the services that a CSB provides come from a variety of sources, including Medicaid and private health insurance companies.

Centers for Recovery

• Centers for recovery provide an atmosphere similar to that of a home so that people may work towards their recovery in a relaxed atmosphere. These centers are often run by people who are in the recovery stage of their mental illness or disability. Centers for recovery are generally funded through Medicaid, private insurance and federal grants.

Behavioral Health Clinics

• Behavioral health clinics are open to the community for therapeutic services. Those with mental disabilities or illnesses can come to these clinics to receive counseling and attend group classes. Rates are considerably lower than the rates of private therapists, however the quality of services are generally the same. Some behavioral health clinics are overseen by community service boards, while others are independent within the community.

Centers for Independent Living

• Centers for independent living, or CILs, are free community-based resource centers for individuals with mental disabilities. At these centers, people can access valuable resources that will help them on the road to living independent lives. These centers are run by volunteers within the community and are overseen by a board of supervisors who are also volunteers. Although not all communities have a CIL, many communities are working on developing them.