The purpose of ARMHS is to help the client learn to use mental health, health care and community resources to better manage symptoms, meet their independent living needs, and achieve a higher quality of life. ARMHS practitioners do not provide direct care services such as housekeeping, personal care or transportation directly to clients. Rather, they connect the client with community and health care resources and teach them how to use these services and advocate for their needs.
ARMHS services are supervised by qualified mental health professionals and coordinate with other mental health services, health care providers, housing, vocational and community services.
Qualified ARMHS practitioners meet with clients one to five hours per week. Together with the client, the practitioner develops a Functional Assessment and Treatment Plan focused on the client’s self-identified goals and recovery vision. ARMHS practitioners also provide assistance in the following areas:
- Coping with mental health symptoms
- Accessing other mental health care services
- Advocating for needs with health care providers
- Medication education and monitoring
- Basic social and living skills
- Interpersonal and self-advocacy skills
- Parenting skills
- Healthy socialization and leisure skills
- Personal care and independent living skills
- Financial resources and money management
- Obtaining and maintaining housing
- Obtaining and using transportation
- Employment readiness
- Educational preparedness
- Addressing food insecurity
Eligible recipients for ARMHS must:
- Be 18 years old or older
- Be diagnosed with a serious mental illness
- Have a significant impairment in functioning
- Have completed a recent diagnostic assessment with ARMHS recommendation
- Insured by a Minnesota Health Care Programs (MA, PMAP, SNBC)
NorthStar Community Services currently provides ARMHS in St. Louis, Carlton, Pine and Kanabec Counties. This service can be provided in the community, in-home, or at one of our office locations.