CPC – Mental Health Office

CPC Description & Duties

The office of Central Point of Coordination (CPC) acts as the gatekeeper to a countywide system of services and supports for consumers.

• We take applications
• Make eligibility decisions
• Evaluate the needs of individuals
• Work to create and implement a service-funding plan

CPC Responsibilities

An array of support services is available to eligible consumers who are considered chronically mental ill, mentally retarded or developmentally disabled to support them in the least restrictive environment. Once an individual is determined to be eligible for funding under the Mental Health Plan, some individuals will be assigned a case manager. The case manager will enroll the individual by completing an assessment, team meeting, and an individualized service plan.

The CPC is an active participant in the team meetings and through human service credentialism helps determine needs. Following this reasonable funding requests are considered in a cost-effective manner for use of taxpayer money.

To be eligible for an array of behavioral support services you must:

• Have legal settlement in Jefferson County.
• Meet the criteria defined as having chronic mental illness, mental retardation or developmental disability.
• Meet income and resource guidelines.

Evaluation & Commitment

The CPC office also works with the Clerk of Court in the Civil commitment process. If an individual’s behavior requires involuntary commitment, an application is completed in the Clerk of Court’s office in the county where the individual lives. The application describes the behavior suggesting that the individual is seriously mentally impaired and must be a danger to sell or others. Along with the application a supporting statement must be presented by one or more sworn witnesses with the behavior described.

Upon application, if the judge finds cause for the individual to be seriously mentally impaired, the Sheriff is ordered to take the individual into custody and transport the individual to a psychiatric hospital. A committal hearing will be scheduled within 5 days after custody has been obtained.

If after reviewing the psychiatric evaluation and hearing all the evidence the judge determines that the individual is seriously mentally impaired, the individual will be “committed” and either placed in a hospital, residential facility or to an outpatient service to receive treatment. Following the hearing, a Mental Health Advocate becomes the liaison with the court.