Adult Services
The Helen Ross McNabb Center 's adult programs provide comprehensive outpatient treatment and support services for individuals who are experiencing severe and persistent mental illnesses, stress-related problems, chemical dependency, and organic brain disorders.
Adult Integrated Service Team (IST)
The Integrated Service Team provides case management, therapy, and medication services to adults diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness. It functions as a distinct and self-contained delivery unit that provides comprehensive care. Doctors, nurses, social workers, and case managers comprise the team. Each team member is trained so that they understand the roles of the other team members. This enables each IST to provide coordinated and flexible treatment to its clients. Staff members also link with community services and other support systems.
Adult Co-Occurring Case Management
The Adult Co-Occurring Case Management program is designed to provide intensive community-based services for individuals who have been diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder (mental health and substance abuse/dependence). The purpose of the program is to effectively integrate the treatment of both disorders. To participate in the program an individual must be a resident of Knox County, must be diagnosed with a mental illness and substance abuse/dependence disorder, must have used alcohol or an illegal substance within the past year, and have no other behavioral health coverage (such as TennCare, Medicare, or Safety Net). A case manager that specializes in the treatment of co-occurring disorders helps clients through the recovery process. He assists them with re-integration into the community and helps them overcome barriers to living independently. Program goals include increased client education about co-occurring disorders, increased functioning in daily living activities, increased involvement in self-help support groups, decreased involvement with the legal system, increased access to mental health treatment, and increased access to community resources. Funding is provided by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities.
Safety Net
Safety Net was created by the State of Tennessee and the Department of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities (TDMHDD) to provide mental health treatment for individuals who were disenrolled from TennCare during the process of TennCare reform in 2005. Over 22,000 individuals with serious and persistent mental illness were at risk of losing mental health coverage. In order to continue to provide some assistance, TDMHDD created and implemented a safety net program with mental health providers state-wide.
Safety Net is not a replacement for TennCare services, and was primarily designed to provide medication evaluations and pharmacy assistance to these individuals. Additional services now include individual therapy and case management. Safety Net services are provided by a multidisciplinary team that includes a psychiatrist, a licensed clinical social worker, a case manager, a pharmacy assistant, and a registered nurse who serves as team leader. Safety Net is funded through the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities.
PACT
PACT (Program of Assertive Community Treatment) is designed to help adults with severe mental illnesses reduce or eliminate their symptoms, function in the community, live independently, and reduce hospitalization. Teams of mental health professionals - psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, vocational rehabilitation specialists, alcohol and drug treatment specialists, and peer specialists - provide intensive direct care and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to their clients. Services are provided in the community, which enhances accessibility and the comfort level of clients. There is no time limit on program participation. The program is funded by AdvoCare, a behavioral health organization with TennCare Partners, and is enthusiastically endorsed by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) of Knoxville. To be eligible, an individual must be TennCare eligible, have had at least one psychiatric hospitalization in the past year and have significant impairment in daily living skills, and meet specific guidelines for type of mental illness.
Developmental Disabilities Services
Developmental Disabilities Services furnish support for the individuals with mental retardation and/or other developmental disabilities. These services are delivered through two diverse programs, the Psychopharmacology Clinic and In-Home Intensive Case Management (see Children and Youth Services for In-Home Intensive Case Management) . The goal of these programs is to enhance clients' quality of life by helping them establish and maintain stability, and by taking advantage of the myriad of available community services. The Psychopharmacology Clinic provides consultative evaluations for adults with developmental disabilities coupled with mental illness. The staff includes two part-time board certified psychiatrists and a master's level program coordinator. Individuals may be referred to the clinic as a result of changes in mental status, behavioral challenges, problems with medications, or a request for a second opinion regarding medication regimen, treatment plan, or behavior guidelines. Participants are referred through the Tennessee Department of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities. Funding is provided by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities.
Emergency Services
Emergency services with physician back-up are available to clients in crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Rehabilitation and Recovery Services
The Martha A. Withers Friendship House Peer Support Center houses the Center's client-run social and recreational rehabilitation services. Members are encouraged to socialize and communicate through a variety of client-driven activities such as training groups, community meetings, volunteering in the community, support groups, meal preparation, field trips, picnics, and sporting events. Members may also receive basic job skills training as well as assistance in obtaining employment.
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services assist adults who are TennCare participants and who have a mental health diagnosis by providing support and skills to help them function independently and successfully in their environment. These services are provided through classes located at the Friendship House Peer Support Center. Class subjects include computer skills, reading, daily living skills, physical exercise, anger management, educational service and referral, job interviewing and resume writing skills, and job search and assessment. Referrals may be made by family, friends, mental health professionals, community organizations, or self-referral.
Housing Services
Safe, affordable housing that meets the needs of individuals with mental illness is in great demand. In response to this need, the Center has developed and maintains a variety of housing options.
Independent living is available in several locations in Knoxville. Apartments located in two buildings in the Fourth and Gill neighborhood, one new and one renovated, provide a total of 9 apartments with a capacity of 13 tenants. A resident manager is on site to maintain the facility and monitor the residents for special needs. Tenants also have access to the Center's vocational and social rehabilitation facilities located nearby. Two houses in other locations offer housing for three tenants each. The tenants of these homes are clients of the PACT (Program for Assertive Community Treatment) Program. A resident manager maintains the facility. New Hope Apartments are also located in the Fourth & Gill area. New Hope is divided into two apartments with four tenants each and shared common areas. A case manager works with all 8 tenants to maintain housing, improve self-determination, increase their daily living skills, and to help increase their income. To qualify for an apartment at New Hope an individual must be homeless, have a stable income, be diagnosed as having a mental illness, and must be able to live independently. A house in South Knoxville provides a sober living environment for up to 5 persons recovering from addictions. A lead resident maintains the facility and monitors the tenants. Referrals for this facility are provided by the Blount County Drug Court.
The PATH Homeless Program
The PATH (Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) Homeless Program provides services to homeless individuals who have severe and persistent mental illnesses. Outreach Workers help these individuals achieve stable lives by engaging them in mental health treatment, as well as helping them secure affordable housing, supportive income, and other basic necessities. Funding is provided by a federal PATH grant, matching state funds, and local contributions.
Adult Corrections and Forensics Services
The Adult Corrections Program provides services to the Knox County Sheriff's Corrections Facilities, Blount County Justice Center, and the Knox County Courts. These services are coordinated by a licensed clinical social worker.
Knox County Jail-Based Services - The Center delivers mental health services 43 hours per week in the three Knox County Detention facilities. Services include mental health assessments, medication assessments and recommendations, crisis intervention, brief supportive counseling, brief alcohol and drug assessments, and training and support of jail staff on mental health issues.
Blount County Jail-Based Services - Jail-based mental health services are provided 42 hours weekly by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and once a week by a psychiatrist. They include mental health assessments, brief counseling, crisis intervention, alcohol and drug assessments and referrals, medication management, and planning for release. The Center also consults with and provides training for jail staff on psychiatric issues, behavioral interventions and mental health issues. Referrals may be made by jail staff, inmates, judges, attorneys, or family members.
Forensic Services - The Center also provides court-ordered evaluations for defendants in Knox County Criminal and General Sessions Courts. A team of state-certified examiners conducts evaluations to determine the defendant's competency to stand trial, and/or mental condition of the accused at the time of the alleged offense. These evaluations are completed on an outpatient basis at the Helen Ross McNabb Center or at the jails. Additional consultation services include assessment for the need for psychiatric, alcohol or drug treatment, or other supportive services and referral recommendations. These services are provided at no charge to the courts.
The Knox County Criminal Justice/Mental Health Liaison is part of a statewide community-level project that focuses on issues affective adults who have serious mental illness and are involved in the criminal justice system. The goals of the project are to reduce the number of adults with mental illness in the jails, and to facilitate communication and the coordination of activities between the community, the criminal justice and mental health systems. There are 18 liaisons in the state, and the project is funded through the Tennessee Department of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities.
Addictions Services for Adults
CenterPointe Adult Services on Ball Camp Pike houses most of the Center's adult substance abuse services. The needs of the dually diagnosed (co-occurrence of chemical dependency and mental illness) are addressed within these programs. Programs include residential rehabilitation, outpatient care, and medical detoxification.
The Residential Rehabilitation Program is a 21- to 28-day therapeutic program for chemically addicted adults. This level of care is designed to address significant problems with living skills. The prime emphasis is on the therapeutic community, which provides a highly structured recovery environment combined with moderate-to-high intensity professional clinical services. Treatment is specific to maintaining abstinence and preventing relapse, but also promotes personal responsibility and positive character change.
The Intensive Outpatient Programs are gender-specific counseling sessions for chemically dependent adults who need longer term counseling and support. The program provides twelve hours of structured programming per week, including counseling and alcohol and drug education. The average length of participation is 4 to 8 weeks. The programs also address other issues, such as family/relationship conflict, spirituality, domestic violence, co-dependency, and social and legal problems.
CenterPointe Medical Detoxification Center is a medical detoxification program that serves adults over the age of 18 who are intoxicated or who are experiencing the adverse effects of withdrawal from alcohol or other drugs. Treatment is offered in a medical treatment mode usually lasting three to twelve days. The program focuses on assessment, stabilization, and providing a safe medical detoxification from various chemicals. Service to pregnant women is a priority. Funding is provided by the Tennessee Department of Health Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services.
The Problem Outpatient Gambling Program is designed to help East Tennessee adults age 18 or older who have problem or compulsive gambling issues. The program’s focus is to help these individuals reduce or eliminate their gambling behaviors and to develop and implement relapse prevention skills. Treatment is scheduled at a time that meets clients’ needs, and usually lasts six to eight weeks but may be extended if needed. Addiction professionals provide group, individual and family therapy. The 12 Steps of Gamblers Anonymous are also integrated into treatment, and arrangements may be made for medical and psychological consultations and 24-hour crisis services. The program also serves the community by providing outreach education on gambling and other addictions. Services are provided regardless of ability to pay. Clients who complete the program may attend aftercare on-site for up to one year. The program is funded by a grant from the Tennessee Department of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities.
SISTERS (Supported Intensive System of Treatment Empowerment Recovery) of the Rainbow is an intensive outpatient alcohol and drug day treatment program for adult women who live in Knox County. The program is located in Western Heights housing development. It attempts to overcome the barriers many women face in coming to treatment by providing transportation and child care. The goal of SISTERS is to break the cycle of addiction, welfare, and poverty, and promote self-sufficiency. Program participation is about one year in length.
The Women's Community Liaison serves women age 18 and older who are residents of Knox County and need substance abuse services. The liaison provides intensive case management and comprehensive wraparound services to enhance substance abuse treatment and help ensure a return to productive, drug-free living. Services include assessment, referral, links with other services, and help with transportation, child care, and daily living needs. The program is funded by the Tennessee Department of Health's Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services.
Blount County Drug Court is a 12- to 18-month intensive outpatient treatment program for offenders age 18 and older. Participants must have a history of drug and/or alcohol abuse or dependency, non-violent offenses, and must be referred by the Blount County Court System. Funding is provided by a contract with the Blount County Drug Court .
The HIV/AIDS Prevention and Outreach Program provides HIV prevention information to about 50,000 persons in the community annually, targeting HIV/AIDS high risk groups, intravenous drug users, and those in treatment for chemical dependency. "Street teams" of Prevention Counselors canvas a number of specified local sites several times a week distributing HIV prevention literature and materials. Counselors also present information to community groups through educational sessions at churches, schools, in alcohol and drug treatment centers, halfway houses, boys and girls clubs, and to incarcerated individuals. Free HIV testing is facilitated through the Knox County Health Department for persons identified as at risk for exposure to the virus. Funding is provided by the Tennessee Department of Health.
To make a referral, receive more information, or to access services,
please call 865. 637.9711.
