Although I understand and support the efforts to ensure a standard for professionals in the field of behavioral services the concern that I have is that bureaucracy and paperwork lengthens the amount of time for new hires and may be a hindrance to providing consumers with service in an effective and timely manner.  Especially in crisis stabilization services where the emphasis is to reach out as soon as possible to clients who are at risk for hospitalization, homelessness or sucidiality/homicidality. If the process is held to a two week turn around that would be very beneficial, if it proves to be lengthier this could be a hindrance.

In addition, the area of the state where our agency operates has a limited amount of LMHPS. This presents a problem with requiring that supervision of the daily implementation of individualized service plans fall on LMHPS or LMHP-E individuals. This again may prove to be inefficient in serving the behavioral health population in our rural locality.

Scott Philbrook, Clinical Coordinater/Crisis Team Leader