Our Guiding Principles

Care Model

The care model at West Michigan CMH is designed to create an individualized, patient-centered plan that supports consumers in their recovery and lives. The goal is to ensure people receive all the services they need and that those services are provided by a caring and trained team of professionals that are best suited to help consumers reach their goals.

We provide traditional behavioral health services using evidence-based practice models for people with mental health conditions, developmental disabilities, and/or substance use disorders in Mason, Lake and Oceana counties.

Knowing that physical health and mental health are closely connected, our care model provides integrated services that focus on whole-person health. Our staff will ensure your physical health needs are met while supporting you in taking the necessary steps recommended by your primary care provider (PCP). We will work closely with your PCP to ensure care is coordinated to maximize results.

The care model at West Michigan CMH also incorporates specialty services to help meet your goals. Our staff is trained in various specialties that may be part of your overall care model. These services may include, but are not limited to: difficulties with past trauma, substance use concerns, employment concerns, housing concerns, physical health, tobacco cessation, nutrition and weight loss, veteran assistance, etc.

Person-Centered Planning

Person-centered planning (PCP) is the process used to design your individual recovery and wellness plan. Your plan might also be called a “plan of service” or a “treatment plan.”

Person-centered planning is your right. It is protected by the Michigan Mental Health Code. More importantly though, it’s a road map for your recovery journey.

With help from your selected supports (family and friends) and your care team, you’ll plan your journey toward recovery, health, and wellness together. You can begin your person-centered-planning whenever you like — even today. Simply contact us to start the process.

How does person-centered planning work?

Person-centered planning is an ongoing process. As you go, you can continue to plan and “adjust your road map” according to your needs.

To begin person-centered planning, you will:

• Choose whom (besides yourself) you would like at your person-centered planning meetings. For example, you might choose family, friends, or staff members.
• Decide when and where your person-centered planning meetings will be held.
• Decide what assistance you may need to help you participate in and better understand the meetings. For example, you might request an interpreter, special equipment, an independent facilitator,* etc.

* You have the right to “independent facilitation” of the person-centered planning process. This means that you may request someone other than the staff to conduct your planning meetings. You have the right to choose from available independent facilitators.

What happens during person-centered planning meetings?

During your very first person-centered planning meeting, you will be asked what your hopes and dreams are. Some or all of your hopes and dreams will become your goals for your person-centered plan.

Reaching these goals will be what your person-centered plan is all about. And we’re here to help. West Michigan CMH staff will:

• Help you find the supports and services to best help you meet your needs and goals
• Provide options for how these services can be delivered
• Help you choose the best staff and team to help provide these services

Deciding what you need

There are no set limits on the amount, scope, or duration of services available to you through West Michigan CMH. Still, it’s important to remember that not every service West Michigan CMH offers is right for every person.

Instead, your services simply need to be appropriate to your specific needs. When a service is appropriate to your specific need, it’s often called a “medical necessity.”

Of course, your services should also help in meeting the goals you established during your first person-centered planning meeting.

Your person-centered planning team will help identify the appropriate combination of services for you.

Checking in

After you begin receiving services, we’ll check in with you from time-to-time.

You will simply be asked how you feel about the supports, services, or treatment you’re getting. How are you getting on? Do any changes need to be made?

The more you can tell us, the more we can help. Our aim is to tailor your person-centered plan and care as closely as possible to your recovery goals.

Reviewing your plan

At any time, you may ask to have your recovery plan reviewed as well. Simply ask your care manager. They will get the review process rolling for you.

Sometimes, your care manager may recommend that you look at your plan together too. Side-by-side, you and your care team will continuously seek ways to improve your person-centered plan. It’s the best way to create a great treatment plan that helps you achieve your ultimate goals.

Child and Family-Centered Planning

Children under the age of 18 also have the right to treatment and care through person-centered planning. At West Michigan CMH, we can help young people who have developmental disabilities, serious emotional disturbance, substance use disorders, or mental health issues.

Of course, when it comes to children and teens, it’s important to remember that their wellness and care will impact (and be impacted by) the entire family. Therefore, we invite parent(s) or guardian(s) of the child to be involved in all steps of treatment, including:

• Pre-planning
• Person-centered planning meetings
• Choosing effective supports and services
• Regular check-ins and reviews of person-centered planning

We call this “family-centered practice.” It’s vital because as parents, you are an expert in the care of your child — and your own care. Together with the services we provide at West Michigan CMH, recovery and long-term wellness is always possible.

Recovery

West Michigan CMH believes that any person can recover and learn to manage their condition with the proper help and support. Learn more about our unique approach to recovery as outlined by our Clinical Director.

Evidence-Based Practice Models

SAMHSA (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) defines Evidence-Based Practices as:

“Interventions that have shown through program evaluation, using accepted scientific methods, that an observed effect is the consequence of the intervention.”

In other words, evidence-based practices integrate the best scientific research available with reliable expertise from experienced clinicians. This forms an outline of treatment that will be dependably effective for those who require care.

West Michigan CMH programming is based upon evidence-based practice models, and we constantly strive to adhere to these rigorous standards of care.

Examples of evidence-based practices currently being implemented at West Michigan CMH include:

• Assertive Community Treatment (also called ACT)
• Dialectical Behavior Treatment (DBT)
• Parent Management Training Oregon Model (PMTO)
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
• Family Psychoeducation (FPE)
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
• Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)

If any of these practices could benefit your reasons for seeking care, your care team will discuss them in detail with you as part of your person-centered planning.

Self-Determination

At West Michigan CMH, we believe that you should be able to exercise control over your own life and care choices. “Self-determination” allows for this. It is an option for payment of medically-necessary services that adults receiving services may request.

In plain terms, “self-determination” gives you the responsibility of directing a fixed amount of dollars on your authorized supports and services. This is often referred to as an “individual budget.”

“Self-determination” also provides you with the opportunity to choose and hire your own care providers as long as the services delivered are authorized and delivered as directed by your plan of service or treatment plan.

Trauma-Informed Care

Instead of asking, “What is wrong with you?” after a traumatic event, we need to ask, “What happened to you?” and aim to understand your experience as much as possible. This is trauma-informed care.

Trauma-informed care is a treatment framework that aims to understand the individual and the trauma they have experienced. Through this deep understanding, we can recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma and provide essential physical and emotional safety and care. We can ask the individual to collaborate in figuring out the best course of action for further treatment and empowerment.

Trauma-informed care works with any type of trauma, including secondary trauma, betrayal trauma, acute episodic trauma, and other forms.