The United Nations Counseling Service (UCS) program has expanded to meet an important community need
The three-bed Integrated Crisis Stability Services (ICSS) program aims to meet the urgent needs of the community in Bennington County. ICSS is offered by UCS, a non-profit community-based organization, and part of the Vermont Care Partners (VCP) network, and is located at the Battlehouse in Bennington, VT. ICSS reduces barriers to treatment by integrating mental health crisis stabilization with a public inpatient program (PIP) that provides short-term support for adults experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis.
ICSS is an extended offering for UCS, and is a must. As UCS Medical Director Illya Reeve explains, “ICSS aims to meet the needs of our community to remove barriers to access to support and treatment for those experiencing substance use and/or mental health crises.”
PIP provides a safe alternative for those arrested by the police for public intoxication who would otherwise be held in protective custody. Previously, Vermont’s PIPs only served individuals who suffered from alcohol dependence. Now, the program includes working with individuals who are under the influence of any substance. This allows Battlehouse to accept community members who are experiencing substance use disorders. “Alcohol is not the only substance that has problems in our community,” says UCS Assistant Medical Director and Director of Emergency Services Rachel Burnham, “and our care offerings now reflect that, enabling more people in our community to access this vital resource.”
Treating the whole person: Addressing the connection between mental health and substance use
VCP and the VCP Network are working with the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Substance Abuse to design a sustainable program and financial framework to integrate PIP and mental health crisis beds. UCS is one of two network institutions currently piloting the integrated program. UCS and state partners are working together to develop a program that addresses both mental health and substance use, recognizing that the two often go hand in hand. “By combining mental health and substance use, we can take a more holistic approach to treating the whole person,” says Burnham.
The program follows newly proposed state guidelines to meet the growing need for crisis beds that admit intoxicated individuals. According to a 2020 report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, several national surveys have found that nearly half of those who experience a mental illness in their lifetime will also experience a substance use disorder, and vice versa.
“We took our existing program and developed it into an integrated program, so that more people could be served and included,” Reeve adds. “Because of the new government guidelines, we can work with a wider swath of people, help them stabilize, stay in their community, and maybe avoid an emergency room or hospitalization. There are people who want to address their addiction patterns and mental health issues that drive their substance use, and we can now meet that need.”
What can one expect at ICSS?
Referrals to ICSS can come from a variety of sources: law enforcement, the emergency department, or even community members who are concerned about a neighbor in distress. Currently, UCS crisis clinicians will then screen the individual to determine if admission to Battlehouse is appropriate. Screening can be done anywhere in Bennington County with UCS’s mobile crisis services model. If admission is offered, we work with the individual to make a plan to come to Battlehouse.
Staying at Battle House is voluntary and individuals can come and go as they please. The length of stay varies for each person, from one night to several days, depending on the level of need. In some cases, the stay may only be a few hours, enough time to receive support from staff before returning home. While at ICSS, individuals are offered brief therapeutic interventions and skill-building activities that focus on coping, independence, and well-being or harm reduction. Most importantly, they can count on a safe place to stabilize from a mental health and/or substance use crisis while being supported by trained staff in a comfortable, home-like environment.
Crisis stabilization workers serve as the first line of contact for those in crisis or refer callers. Staff also provide therapeutic support, structure throughout the day and meals to stay at the battel. “The staff is really the core of the program,” says Burnham.
If the individual is interested in ongoing support or treatment, staff can contact these services as part of the transition from the Battlehouse to Home. With the launch of ICSS, UCS can refer to substance use services as a resource, in addition to outpatient mental health services. “Screening and follow-up by our substance use services team will be really helpful,” says Burnham. “We will be able to screen more people and refer them for follow-up by substance use services in addition to offering outpatient treatment.”
Building a strong foundation for the future
ICSS at UCS builds on the established reputation of the institution’s crisis stabilization program, which community members are already seeking support from. Burnham recognizes that many local people continually call UCS crisis services for help because of the relationships they have developed with staff. Her team reported a significant increase in the community’s reliance on telephone and crisis services last year, up to 4,445 calls. For community members, just knowing that someone is willing to help on the other end of the phone makes a world of difference.
“We offer a direct crisis phone line where you can contact support staff during business hours as opposed to going through an answering service or paging system,” says Burnham. “You can call and reach someone in real time. I think people really benefit from that in a positive way.”
UCS will continue to work with the Department of Mental Health and the Division of Substance Abuse to track utilization data and report on ICSS program outcomes. Reporting the data and results will help determine the success of the new model and also help us if any changes are needed. “We are incredibly excited to work with our government partners to provide this much-needed service to our community,” says Burnham.
UCS is committed to helping individuals and families in Bennington County live healthy and meaningful lives. Our work spans mental health, substance use treatment, intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and early childhood development. UCS is a private, nonprofit community mental health center that has been an integral part of Bennington County’s integrated health care system since 1958.
For more information or to access our services, visit ucsvt.org or call (802) 442-5491.
This article is part of a series, produced jointly by members Vermont Caring FriendsA network of sixteen statewide nonprofit, community-based agencies providing mental health, substance use, and intellectual and developmental disability support.
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