The Systems of Care

Systems of Care are essential to meet the clinical needs of clients and manage the fiscal risk inherent in serious mental illness. The treatment of serious mental illness often requires a variety of type and intensity of treatments not traditionally found in individual programs. A program design of integrated services is needed, allowing the client to use a range of services that support him/her in his own environment, whenever possible. Systems of Care also promote partnerships with other human service agencies, so that risk is managed not only within the mental health system, but in other human service systems as well.

Through the process of Medi-Cal consolidation, California has transformed its public sector specialty mental health services into managed care systems, under the auspices of the Local Mental Health Plan (County Departments of Mental Health and their providers). This managed care environment brings new roles for counties and with it new emphasis at the service delivery level on the issues of access to available, effective services, partnerships with other agencies, outcomes, and client satisfaction.

A System of Care is a coordinated service delivery structure that:

• Ensures timely and appropriate access to the services its members need.
• Has partnerships with its clients and essential agencies and organizations.
• Enhance clinical and cost effectiveness.
• Produces measurable outcomes and client satisfaction.