Human Services

SOS Enterprise Services

Statewide Outcome(s):

SOS Enterprise Services supports the following statewide outcome(s).

Minnesotans are healthy.

People in Minnesota are safe.

Context:

According to the Coalition for Whole Health, Recommendations on Coverage of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services, published in August 2011, nearly one-third of adults and one-fifth of children had a diagnosable substance use or mental health problem in the last year. Individuals with severe mental health and severe substance use disorders are known to have greater mortality rates, dying 25 to 37 years earlier than the general population. In 2009, 23.5 million Americans needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol problem, but only 4.3 million people received treatment. Several states have found that providing adequate mental health/addiction treatment benefits slows the escalation in health care costs and reduces Medicaid spending.

In 2006–2008, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that in the United States, about one in six children had a developmental disability ranging in severity levels. As these children become adults, some are unable to self-manage their own disabilities or continue their existing living arrangement or find employment.

State Operated Services’ (SOS) Enterprise Services is for those individuals that other community providers cannot or will not serve due to the individuals complex service needs. SOS Enterprise services served 2,043 clients in the Community Addiction Recovery Enterprise programs, 35 children in foster care services, 896 clients in vocational programs, and 524 clients in community-based residential services in fiscal year 2012.

Strategies:

State Operated Services specializes in providing services to vulnerable people for whom no other providers are available or for whom State Operated Services may be the provider selected by the payer. As such, these services fill a need in the continuum of services for vulnerable people with disabilities by providing services not otherwise available. SOS Enterprise Services focus on providing treatment and residential care for adults and children with chemical dependency, behavioral health issues, and developmental disabilities. SOS Enterprise Services operates in the marketplace with other providers, funded solely through revenues collected from third-party payment sources. As such, these services do not rely on a state appropriation for funding. Enterprise services are fully funded by public or private third-party health insurance or other revenue sources.

Current services SOS provides on an enterprise basis include:

·         Chemical Addiction Recovery Enterprise (C.A.R.E.) programs provide inpatient and outpatient treatment to persons with chemical dependency and substance abuse problems. Programs are operated in Anoka, Brainerd, Carlton, Fergus Falls, St. Peter, and Willmar.

·         Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services (CABHS) provide an array of foster care services to children or adolescents who have severe emotional disturbances and serious acting out behaviors. Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Services provides these services at sites statewide and the treatment structure of the foster care home is based on a combination of evidence-based models, including the multidimensional treatment foster care model, wrap-around services model, and, where appropriate, dialectical behavioral therapy.

·         State Operated Services community-based residential services for people with disabilities typically are provided in four-bed group homes. Individual service agreements are negotiated with the counties for each client based on his/her needs. Clients take advantage of and are integrated into the daily flow of their community.

·         Day Training and Habilitation (DT&H) programs provide vocational support services to people with disabilities and include evaluation, training, and supported employment. Individual service agreements are negotiated for each client.

Results:

Performance Measures Notes:

1.     Previous represents the average between all C.A.R.E. programs for CY 2009 and Current represents CY 2010. The department goal is to increase treatment rates by five percent. This measure is important because completion of a chemical dependency treatment program is an indication of client engagement and increases likelihood of sobriety after discharge. (Source: DHS internal performance tracking)

2.     Previous represents CY 2011 and Current represents CY 2012. This measure is important because it demonstrates the department’s commitment to recognizing that people with disabilities can do useful work and be productive citizens. (Source: DHS internal performance tracking)

3.     Previous represents FY 2011 and Current represents FY 2012. This measure is important because it demonstrates that the patient’s treatment is working and they are able to remain in recovery and live in their community. (Source: SOS medical records system)