OMHSAS
About the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS)
The Department of Public Welfare’s Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has primary responsibility for program development, policy, and financial oversight of the delivery of behavioral health services in the Commonwealth, which includes mental health treatment services and supports and designated substance abuse services. The primary objective is to support individual movement toward recovery, The Department seeks to ensure that there is an integrated approach to both the delivery and financing of behavioral health services. The Department administers: community mental health funds; Behavioral Health Services Initiative (BHSI) funds, for both mental health and substance abuse services for individuals no longer eligible for Medical Assistance (MA); and Act 152 funds to provide non-hospital residential substance abuse services. In addition, the Department manages, through county or direct contracts, the HealthChoices MA Behavioral Health Managed Care Program and is responsible for Behavioral Health services delivered through MA Fee-For-Service. Direct mental health treatment services are also provided through eight state-operated hospitals and one restoration (long term care) center. Finally, the Department oversees the delivery of community mental health services administered by counties under the Pennsylvania Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MH/MR) Act of 1966 and the Mental Health Procedures Act (MHPA) of 1976.
OMHSAS Mission and Vision
Every individual served by the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service system will have the opportunity for growth, recovery and inclusion in their community, have access to culturally competent services and supports of their choice, and enjoy a quality of life that includes family members and friends.
The current goals of OMHSAS are to:
- Transform the children’s behavioral health system to a system that is family driven and youth guided.
- Implement services and policies to support recovery and resiliency in the adult behavioral health system.
- Assure that behavioral health services and supports recognize and accommodate the unique needs of older adults.
OMHSAS Guiding Principles
The mental health and substance abuse service system will provide quality services and supports that:
- Facilitate recovery for adults and resiliency for children;
- Are responsive to individuals’ unique strengths and needs throughout their lives;
- Focus on prevention and early intervention;
- Recognize, respect and accommodate differences as they relate to culture/ ethnicity/race, religion, gender identity and sexual orientation;
- Ensure individual human rights and eliminate discrimination and stigma;
- Are provided in a comprehensive array by unifying programs and funding that build on natural and community supports unique to each individual and family;
- Are developed, monitored and evaluated in partnership with consumers, families and advocates; and
- Represent collaboration with other agencies and service systems.
For more information about OMHSAS visit http://parecovery.org/ or contact:
OMHSAS
Jessica Bradley
P.O. Box 2675
Harrisburg, PA 17105
(717) 787-2422