History
The Full Service Partnership (FSP) program began in 2005 under the Community Services and Support (CSS) Plan of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). The term of full service partnership means that the client is fully served and there is an integrated experience.
The core principles are:
- client and family-driven mental health services within the context of a partnership between the client and provider;
- accessible, individualized services and supports tailored to a client’s readiness for change that leverage community partnerships;
- delivery of services in a culturally competent manner, with a focus for wellness, outcomes and accountability.
It was built on a “Whatever It Takes” philosophy. This means that we find the methods and means to engage. Staff work to engage a client in a supportive way so his or her needs are met to move towards recovery. The program should provide a full range of community services to achieve the client’s goals. This means that staff will be available 24/7 for a client or family members if in crisis, not just during a session.
Children and adolescents who are identified as Seriously Emotionally Disturbed (SED). Adults and Older Adults who have a serious mental disorder. Depending on the age, there are specific criteria and some of them are: not able to self-care, psychotic features, risk of suicide, homeless or at-risk of being homeless, incarcerated, involved in the criminal justice system, and frequent user of emergency room services or hospital. A staff clinician will help determine if a person qualifies for this program.
Referrals to FSP are routed through the Department of Mental Health since they are usually identified as having received services. Individuals may contact DMH directly or contact PACS to assist in completing a referral to DMH.
SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR A CLIENT IN THE FSP PROGRAM
- Engaged in employment, vocational or school related activities
- Reunified with family, friends, and peers
- Improved socialization skills
- Involved in meaningful community activities such as volunteering
- Has positive supports
- Stabilized housing
- Reduced incarcerations or involvement with law enforcement
- Improved access to medical care/treatment
- Reduced hospitalizations
- Engaged with a staff psychiatrist and taking meds as prescribed
- Establishment of government benefits
- Reduced need for clinical support
- Maintenance of sobriety
“The FSP program has been helpful. It helped me with housing, to get a job and help me get back my mental health.” Client
TYPES OF FSP PROGRAMS AT PACS
AOT (Assisted Outpatient Treatment) – also known as Laura’s Law, the program serves those identified as having a serious mental illness who are at substantial risk of deterioration and/or detention under WIC5150 as a direct result from poor psychiatric treatment compliance. Clients who refuse services, may be petitioned through a court order to participate in a psychiatric outpatient treatment program.
Criteria:
- Over 18 years old
- Seriously mentally ill
- Unlikely to survive safely in the community without supervision
- History of non-compliance with treatment that has either:
- More than 2 hospitalizations or incarcerations within the last 36 months, or
- within 48 months, one or more acts and/or attempts to cause serious physical harm to self and/or others
- Substantially deteriorating
- Likely to result in grave disability or serious harm to self or others without treatment
- Failed to engage in available treatment
- An AOT court petition lasts for 6 months. It can be extended by the agency by petition for the client. The client can graduate from the program or they can remain in the program on a voluntary basis.
ISR (Intensive Service Recipient) – Comprehensive services to eligible participants for 90 days post-discharge from an in-patient psychiatric hospital. After 90 days, the participant is transitioned to FSP or other appropriate level of outpatient care. Clients are referred due to being high/frequent utilizers of emergency rooms, PMRT, psychiatric hospitals, residential, or jail/prison.
Criteria:
- Must be listed on a DMH-generated list, or serious mental illness
- At least 2 inpatient hospitalizations in the past 12 months.
MIST (Misdemeanor Incompetent to Stand Trial)
- Specialized program for clients with a misdemeanor charge who are incompetent to stand trial
- Clients are granted conditional release from jail if they comply with mental health services and adhere to medication
- Program can increase the client’s motivation for treatment to avoid incarceration
- Program is time sensitive and the goal is to work towards competency
FSP-RES (FSP Residential)
- For clients who are stepped down from various residential programs such as IMD or Enriched Residential Services (ERS) and Community Reintegration Program (CRTP) programs
- Clients are typically conserved
- Referrals are made through the DMH Intensive Care Division Liaison
FSP-FOR (FSP Forensic)
- For clients who have been released or will be released from jail/prison within the last 12 months
- Referrals are made to an FSP provider from jail, DMH Mental Health Court Linkage Liaison or Office of Diversion and Re-entry
PACS is proud to be part of a countywide collaborative that provides FSP services to Asian Pacific Islanders in over twelve API languages. Started in 2007 with Special Services Group (SSG) as the lead agency, PACS, Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Center, Asian Pacific Family Center, the API Alliance, Asian Pacific Coastal and Asian Pacific Long Beach provided a continuum of coordinated and culturally competent mental health services for API adults and children (0-15 years old) with severe mental illness.
Under the collaborative, API clients receive all the comprehensive services of an FSP program with the addition of staff who are bilingual in API languages and culturally sensitive. Referrals are from jail, Metropolitan hospital, acute hospitals, IMDs, DMH, court mental health program and other outpatient programs. Once enrolled, the API FSP Team is designated as the Single-Fixed Point of Responsibility, to provide the needed mental health services. The API FSP team provides a central entity for referring sources to link members to services, and acts an advocate for members and families to navigate the myriads of resources in the community. Staff from various agencies work across service area boundaries to provide services in language.
“Our family was saved,” said a family, whose daughter refused to leave her home and struggled with mental health issues after witnessing two deaths in her community. Now their daughter attends school every day, her grades have improved, and she is on a dance team.
TESTIMONIALS
Testimonial #1
M was a Japanese client, who was detained by DCFS because her father was physically and verbally abusive to those living in the home. DCFS allowed M to remain with her grandparents when they moved to another house. However, the father obtained their new address and began to terrorize them. Although the grandparents feared for their safety, they gave into his demands for money, food, and sometimes shelter.
During a session with M, the FSP clinician observed the threatening behavior of the father and called the police. Due to the grandparents’ language limitations, the clinician accompanied them to the police department to assist them in filing assault charges.
Since M was little, she has lived a life full of trauma. She stayed positive, worked hard, and helped others. Despite the chaos in her life, she took AP classes, had a 4.6 GPA, and was involved in many extra-curricular activities.
M will be going to UCLA and won a national $40,000 scholarship. She is so amazing, and so is the FSP clinician who worked with her and the family.
Testimonial #2
C was a Filipina adolescent who tried to kill herself by hanging and was referred to FSP. She had a long history of being bullied since elementary school and was transferred to a new high school in 9th grade. She couldn’t make friends, seemed very sad and struggled to get out of an abusive relationship with an ex-boyfriend.
The FSP team supported her every step of her journey to regain a sense of self. She made amazing new friends and became the yearbook’s editor-in-chief for two years. Her last two years of high school were challenging but she showed courage, compassion, creativity, and leadership.
C will be going to college and she plans to start a volunteer-based sorority that focuses on women’s rights and domestic violence.
“Looking back now, I am so thankful that my suicide wasn’t successful, because if I … died that day…I would have never met my FSP team that really cared and helped me during the hardest times of my life…The day that I tried to kill myself, I call it the Hanging Anniversary because I didn’t really succeed at hanging myself, but instead, I was able to HANG in there and decided to keep pushing to find my happiness.”
Case history:
J was a Cambodian client whose mental health was deteriorating. He would not take prescribed medications, showed violence and aggression towards his family, abused substances, experienced multiple hospitalizations, and several police involved interactions.
J would not engage in the counseling sessions. With the support of the FSP clinician and case manager, the family went to court and advocated for S to be placed in a mental health diversion program. S understands that if he does not cooperate, he could go to trial and face jail time if convicted.
S’s case manager provided great emotional support to the family, especially the mother, in their native language. He educated them about mental illness and how medication and counseling would help in S’s recovery. His family and the FSP team know S has a long road to recovery and they are committed to be there. So far, he has stayed the course.