Why Do Mental Health Treatment Centers Collaborate?
Bruce Goldberg of River’s Bend PC and Rae Green from Sanford Behavioral Health collaborated and connected at a Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals event.
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we take pride in providing access to care for individuals with addiction, eating disorders, and mental health conditions, whether Sanford is the right place for them or not. Likewise, we partner with trusted organizations that offer additional pieces to the mental health treatment puzzle. In so doing, we create a more complete continuum of care than any one treatment center can provide. It’s smart because no organization can do everything, especially when it comes to specialized services. We sat down with Sanford Founder Rae Green, JD, LPC, CAADC, in Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Bruce Goldberg, President and Co-Founder of River’s Bend PC, in Troy, Michigan, to talk about their long-standing collaboration and how it improves the quality of care for both organizations.
Why Do Mental Health Treatment Centers Collaborate?
River’s Bend PC is a full-service outpatient clinic that has been serving children, adolescents, and adults for over 25 years. It offers comprehensive treatment services for mental health and chemical dependence at several levels of care and provides cost-effective behavioral health treatment in an outpatient setting. Sanford Behavioral Health has a ten-year history of providing treatment at all levels for addiction, eating disorders, and mental health conditions. Sanford is also a pioneer in eating disorder treatment in Michigan as the first stand-alone residential treatment center in the state. Both organizations treat substance use disorders, eating disorders, and co-occurring mental health conditions together.
SBH: How do Sanford and River’s Bend PC Collaborate?
Bruce Goldberg: One goal of comprehensive assessments is to determine the appropriate level of treatment and whether our organization can manage the full continuum for an individual or if we should partner with another organization with specialized programming. For example, we have outpatient detox, and Sanford offers inpatient detox. Between our organizations, there are Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs), trauma-informed care, men’s, women’s, inpatient, and outpatient care. We both offer IOP eating disorder treatment, and Sanford offers residential as well.
Rae Green: Location can also be a factor, and having our locations on opposite sides of the state is helpful. For example, someone who lives near Detroit may want to get away from home for residential addiction treatment. If this individual needs a higher level of care, River’s Bend may recommend Sanford, and we would provide medical detox (if required) and residential treatment. We are not so far from the eastern side of the state to prohibit in-person family sessions, or we can offer virtual family therapy. For their convenience and continuation of treatment, we would work with River’s Bend to return them for PHP, IOP, and outpatient services once they have completed our program. So, it’s important to have organizations with which we work seamlessly.
River’s Bend PC P4P In-Person Event, Friday, April 11, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Click the photo for more information.
When we work with a trusted partner, we feel comfortable that our referred person will get good treatment. More than that, they will get a “warm hand-off.”
Bruce Goldberg: When it comes to Michigan, our therapists can only refer to a handful of places without my permission. I’m glad Rae mentioned virtual programs. Both of our organizations offer virtual treatment and in-person treatment. With virtual treatment, there are no barriers to location in Michigan. We have some out-of-state possibilities coming up. But with virtual treatment, it doesn’t matter whether a person is in Kalamazoo or Miami, so we can widen our reach.
SBH: How do the referrals work?
Bruce Goldberg: We have a direct line to Sanford’s Director of Admissions, so when we make the referral, we will let Sanford know that our contact will call. If they are coming to Sanford for medical detox or residential treatment, they will often come back to us for either PHP, IOP, individual counseling, or early recovery group. When we work with a trusted partner, we feel comfortable that our referred person will get good treatment. More than that, they will get a “warm hand-off.”
Rae Green: Great point! At Sanford, we get calls every day from individuals and families who are desperate when trying to navigate a complicated mental health system. It is very important that when you work with a trusted organization, a warm hand-off can make the process less fearful and more efficient. An individual doesn’t have to start from scratch when a co-occurring disorder develops or when they step up or down to different levels of care. Our organizations can share experiences and records; it allows for a fuller, richer experience for everyone – client and counselor.
Oftentimes, people do not know what they are looking for. Our phone assessments help them understand what they need and the most effective way to proceed. They may need residential treatment and step down to PHP while staying in Sanford Supportive Housing or return home for PHP and IOP with River’s Bend. We have River’s Bend on our Preferred Referrals List, and we communicate with them at key points throughout an individual’s stay. Simply put, we make a complicated situation as simple and comfortable as possible.
Speaking of collaboration, Rae Green and Bruce Goldberg are presenting at River’s Bend’s upcoming P4P Day Conference. Click the link below to register.
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, eating disorders, co-occurring mental health conditions, or daily functioning, don’t wait to change your life for the better– click the link below to speak with an admissions specialist today.
