When you contact Access Services, we take time to understand what you’re going through and how we can help. The screening helps us match you with the right support based on your needs and urgency. Your information is always private and kept confidential.
Access screenings can be requested by phone or by visiting the Resource and Crisis Center. Walk-in appointments are received on a first-come, first-served basis.
Connecting people in an emergency and/or crisis situation to public behavioral health and community services is critical during their time of need. These services are currently provided by an OCHN network provider and include the following:
Crisis Services is available 24/7. No need for pre-screening or to make an appointment. Simply walk in at the address listed below.
Hours: Open 24/7/365
Non-Emergency Hours: 8 A.M. – 8 P.M.
Resource & Crisis Center:
1200 N Telegraph Rd, Building 32E, Pontiac, MI 48341
The Oakland Youth Mobile Crisis Team, provided by New Oakland Family Centers, is available to families and individuals across Oakland County. The mobile team travels to homes, foster care homes, schools, emergency rooms, and other public places in Oakland County. The service is available for individuals 0 to 21 years of age who are experiencing a mental health crisis, regardless of insurance type.
The mobile crisis service includes:
Call the Youth Mobile Crisis Team at 877-800-1650 for more resources.
Southeast Michigan is home to robust and life-changing behavioral health services. Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne County residents should know where and how to access support when needed.
If the website you are visiting is not in the community where you live, please refer to the list below for the correct contact information.
OCHN’s Access Team determines eligibility for Oakland County families and individuals in need of mental health, substance use, and intellectual / developmental disabilities to obtain specialty services. Oakland County residents who have Medicaid, Healthy Michigan, or are Medicaid eligible can be connected to public mental health supports through OCHN’s non-emergency or emergency / crisis access points.
OCHN’s Access Team also determines eligibility for alcohol and drug treatment services for Oakland County residents with Medicaid, Health Michigan, private insurance, or no insurance.
People’s needs, laws, and communities change continuously. In response to these changes, Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) continues to be progressive and innovative in all of its decisions surrounding your public mental health services. We value your input, respect your right to choose, and lead by your example.
Oakland County residents who have an intellectual/developmental disability, mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbance, and people with substance use disorders may be eligible to receive specialty public mental health services. Most of these people have Medicaid/Healthy MI Plan coverage. However, individuals who are uninsured and underinsured can be linked to substance use disorder services through Federal Block grant funding.
OCHN’s screening process helps to determine where your needs can be met, based on the severity and urgency of your situation. Screenings can be requested by calling our main line at 248-464-6363 or by visiting the Resource and Crisis Center (1200 N Telegraph, Bldg. 32E, Pontiac, MI). If an access screener is available, a screening can be completed at this time. Walk-in appointments are received on a first-come, first-served basis.
Once an individual/family calls, our access and referral specialists collect demographic information to identify the individual/family’s needs. If it is determined that an access screening is necessary, the referral specialist then checks on the availability of an access screener. If an access screener is not available, the individual/family is offered the opportunity to schedule a same-day appointment with a screener or to be added to the callback queue to be called back the same day.
Screeners generally call back individuals/families within 24 to 48 hours. This may vary based on the call volume during the day.
The access screener will leave a message and request for you to call back the access main number when you are available. The screeners call individuals/families on a rotation basis. When a screener calls, he/she will complete the screening at that time if the individual/family is available.
The hours of operation for non-emergency Access services to Oakland County’s Public Mental Health system are:
On average, an access screening is 45 minutes to one hour.
We will determine what type of screening best meets your needs, face-to-face or over the phone. While not mandatory, OCHN prefers face-to-face screenings for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. All other access screenings, including adults with a mental illness and children with a serious emotional disturbance, can take place over the telephone.
Screenings are scheduled as soon as possible and upon contact. If an individual is having difficulty getting to the RCC for a face-to-face meeting, then a phone screening can be provided.
Once individuals are connected to an access and referral specialist, an appointment will be scheduled to meet with a screener. Information about the necessary paperwork to complete this process will be provided at this time.
Access screenings are generally completed by telephone or on a walk-in basis at the Resource and Crisis Center. Other community opportunities for screenings can be done if there is enough volume.
Licensed clinicians will ask questions about mental health/developmental and/or family history, risk of harm, physical health needs, medications, functional status, family relationships and stress, substance use, socialization, school, symptoms etc. It is important to be as honest as possible to get the correct information, so that the individual/family is placed in the appropriate level of care. If a child/minor is screened, the clinician will want to speak with both the minor and their guardians.
Screenings are also conducted prior to a person being discharged from a hospital setting to ensure appropriate follow-up care is in place.
If you qualify for services, you will be given a choice of providers and linked with the provider of your choice for an intake. Intake appointments occur no more than 14 days (if not sooner for adults), 7 days (if not sooner for children) after the screening determination is made. Special screening consideration is given to pregnant women and injecting drug users.
If you do not qualify for services, there are a variety of community resources that can be given to help meet your needs. These vary between insurances, locations, and are given based on individualized need.
Children have privacy privileges which protect their information from being openly reported to their family. This aids the mental health practitioner with building rapport with the child and/or young adult. If the mental health professional believes there are any concerns for safety (risk of harm to self or others), they will immediately coordinate with the family to ensure the young person’s safety.
Mental health professionals value collaboration with families to ensure the best possible care for their child/children. Typically, professionals will meet with the parent/guardian and their child to get an idea of what services would best meet the family’s needs and on-going to ensure coordination. The professional will work most often with the child one-on-one to help the young person develop coping skills and provide the support that is needed.
Mental health professionals are able to encourage and support the child and their family through the treatment process; they are not able to force a child to take medications. If a parent is concerned for a child’s well-being, they can take them to the Resource and Crisis Center and/or the hospital for additional follow-up.
SED waivers provide additional services to Medicaid State Plan coverage for youth with a Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED).
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) provides community-based services to enable youth who would otherwise require hospitalization to remain in home and community settings, and who would otherwise not be eligible for Medicaid-funded supports.
The youth and family must live in a community-based setting (not in a hospital, ICF/IID, nursing facility, correctional facility, or child caring institution) while receiving services. Other criteria include:
Eligibility for the Serious Emotional Disturbances Waiver (SEDW) is supported through the use of standardized assessment tools. Currently, the Michigan Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (MichiCANS) assessment is used to support eligibility determinations.
During the current policy period, the MichiCANS is used in conjunction with a functional assessment tool based on the child’s age. These tools may include:
• CAFAS (Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale) for children and youth ages 7–18
• PECFAS (Preschool and Early Childhood Functional Assessment Scale) for younger children
Within the MichiCANS assessment, eligibility recommendations are based on whether the child or youth meets Criterion A, Criterion B, and Criterion C.
These criteria evaluate areas such as behavioral and emotional needs, risk behaviors, life functioning, and caregiver resources.
These assessment tools are used together to support eligibility determinations for the waiver and are not used to diagnose a condition.
The MDHHS operates and provides oversight of the SEDW through contracts with the Regional Prepaid Inpatient Health Plans (PIHP).
Application for the SEDW is made through the PIHP / OCHN, Access department. The SEDW is intended to be short-term (1 year). Individuals who meet all eligibility criteria are submitted to MDHHS for approval. An annual recertification process to assure ongoing eligibility is required.
Once approved, the PIHP / OCHN is responsible for the oversight of SEDW service coordination. Youth will receive services and coordination of services from a Core Provider Agency contracted with OCHN to receive Wrap-Around and any other medically necessary service consistent with the Medicaid Provider Manual.
The Wraparound Facilitator, the youth and their family and friends, and other professional members of the planning team identify the youth’s needs and secure necessary services. All services/supports must be included in an Individual Plan of Services (IPOS).
If a youth on the SEDW turns 18, meets all non-age-related eligibility criteria, and continues to need waiver services, they can remain on the waiver up to their 21st birthday. Participants must receive at least one SEDW service per month in addition to Wraparound contacts to retain eligibility.
