Program Components
Access Service
There is an immediate statewide uniform crisis response 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CARES has a single entry point through the 888-393-3007 phone number.
Referrals for CARES are received primarily through Screening Centers for adults 21 and over, with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Referrals from other individuals or agencies will be triaged for response.
Initial Assessment
A complete bio-psycho social assessment is started at the screening center or at the initial crisis response setting. The initial plan will be continued and further developed in the community setting.
The CARES team will develop short-term treatment plans in collaboration with the individual, families/caregivers and provider agencies. The primary goals are to manage behavioral disturbances, stabilize the crisis and to avert psychiatric emergency services.
Community Follow-up Interventions/Clinical Case Management
There will be follow-up in the individual's community environment within 24 hours after the individual is discharged from a screening center or psychiatric inpatient facility.
CARES team will work alongside providers and families/caregivers to help develop behavioral strategies and provide ongoing coaching, consultation and training for challenging behaviors.
CARES will utilize wellness tools, electronic medical records and electronic communication to attain the treatment plan goals.
Interventions will be aimed at lessening crisis acuity, providing coping skills and building opportunities for positive communication, identifying triggers and establishing positive routines.
CARES will help providers, families, caregivers to manage and to prevent re-occurrence of crisis situations.
Use of Consultants
Consultants will be used as part of the CARES team for complex cases and frequent users of psychiatric emergency services. CARES has two doctoral-level psychologists, an APN consultant, access to psychiatric consultants and looking to develop BCBA consultants.
Learning Collaborative
Project ECHO is a teleconferencing model in collaboration with the University of New Mexico. A team of experts in the field will be available for teleconferenced case reviews, grand rounds and other collaborative problem-solving and teaching. Project ECHO can be accessed via cell phones, tablets, desktops or laptops.
Nine (9) free regional trainings are presented each year on topics relevant to the MI/DD population.
