Douglas Gardens Community Mental Health Center offers an array of behavioral health care and housing programs:

1.- Outpatient Services

Comprehensive Community Service Teams(CCST)
The Recovery and Resiliency model of care created the Comprehensive Community Service Teams(CCST) in Florida. Resilience means the personal and community qualities that enable us to rebound from adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or other stresses-and to go on with life with a sense of mastery, competence, and hope. Recovery-Refers to the process by which persons with mental illnesses and/or emotional disturbances overcome the negative impact of such conditions despite their continued presence. CCST’s provide Adults with mental illness assistance in identifying goals and making choices (Promotes Resiliency and Recovery). CCST’s are intended to restore the individuals function and participation in the community. The Center currently works within a case management model (CCST) where most (90%) consumers are assigned a case manager who is responsible for the care planning (with the consumer) and organized care.  The case managers are organized into CCST teams which include case managers, an employment specialist, a social rehabilitation worker and a shared outpatient services staff person. A team approach is used to guide and support adults served with development of a recovery plan focusing on areas of individual and family living, learning, working, and socialization. The CCST teams are led by a master’s level clinical person who reports to the Director of Community Services. Services take place in either an outpatient or community based setting.

Adult Outpatient Therapy: Master’s degreed mental health counselors provide psychotherapy/counseling services for specialized populations, through regularly scheduled outpatient sessions here at the center.

Crisis Intervention/Screening Services
Crisis Intervention services assist consumers presenting in acute crisis. We provide crisis screening evaluation, and hospitalization arrangements to local Baker Act facilities. Crisis Intervention services are available either by phone or by walking in Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at the Center’s main office. The Center also has agreements with community agencies to assist when the Center is closed.

Adult Psychiatric Medication Services
Medication management is deigned to assist clients reduce psychiatric symptoms in order to improve and maintain/functionality.

Aftercare Outreach
This program provides assistants to individuals with chronic mental health challenges after a crisis. The Center provides assessments and follow-up services.

Alzheimer’s Respite
This program provides both in-home respite and/or adult day care services to consumers diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia. This program is designed to assist primary caregiver of the stress and demands of caring for an ill loved one, prevent early placement in a nursing home, and to help to improve or maintain an optional quality of life for the ill consumer.

Domestic Violence
A treatment program designed to provide a safe counseling setting wherein persons who are involved in abusive or dangerous relationships can receive support and help. Counselors assist victims in learning the skills necessary to end the cycle of domestic violence.

Medical/Psychiatric Services
Medical/psychiatric services are provided by Board certified or Board eligible Psychiatrists, Licensed Nurse Practitioners, and Nurses. Services may include diagnostic evaluations, consultation, medication management and more. Regularly scheduled health assessments are an important part of this program.

Pharmacy Services
A pharmacy is located at Douglas Gardens CMHC main office. Some prescriptions may be filled here for your convenience.  Pharmacy hours are 8:30 am-5:00 pm.

Psychosocial Rehabilitation
A program which provides ongoing support and structured treatment activities such as self-awareness, problem solving, communication skills and other group therapies. Goals of the program are to improve social skills, teach clients to cope with mental illnesses, prevent relapse, and encourage use of learned skills in independent living in the community.
The Social Rehabilitation program is a structured and supportive group setting to consumers who suffer from severe and chronic mental illness. In this program Consumers will learn to improve their skill set and to better function in society. This 12 week interactive program is designed to maximize outcomes through enhancing social skills, teach coping strategies, and develop the necessary skills/resources to live independently in the community.

Screening/Intake Services
Mental health screening services are provided to every person who requests treatment at the Center. The screening service helps to identify the personal needs and preferences of each person served in order to determine which Center programs and/or services would be most helpful.

Substance Abuse Services
A program which offers a wide range of services for persons experiencing problems with addictions to alcohol and/or drugs. The Center offers outpatient counseling, case management, day treatment, and referral to community programs designed to facilitate abstinence and recovery from addictions. Counselors are skilled in the 12 Step model of recovery and AA/NA meeting attendance is recommended. Recognizing co-occurring issues is a crucial component of service provision.

Supportive Employment Services
Supportive Employment Services are available to consumers aged 18+ who receive psychiatric treatment at the Center. Employment counseling, job placement, on-the-job training and support are available for those eligible persons who are seeking employment and need job search assistance and on-site support.

2.- Homeless Services

Successful Investments Program
The Successful Investments program provides temporary housing assistance to victims of domestic violence in order to help clients make the transition to an independent living environment. The services are designed to provide clients assistance in obtaining and maintaining permanent housing including short-term rental assistance, mental health services, case management, and referrals to vocational training and job placement services, legal assistance and child care services.

Access Program
The Advanced Care Program provides financial assistance to individuals who have an income source adequate to meet their monthly housing costs, but who otherwise might not be able afford the initial costs involved in moving into housing (such as funds for furniture, security deposits, utilities, etc.). The program also provides follow-up care for one year to prevent the consumer from becoming homeless again.

Homeless Housing Services
The Center has worked extensively in the development of supportive housing programs for mentally ill individuals who were homeless.  These programs included the acquisition, renovation and operation of a 42 bed historic Art Deco hotel that serves as permanent housing for clients.

Park Place- Mayfair Residence
This program provides apartments for clients that already are in service at the center. This is subsidized housing for those that would benefit from living in a supportive environment. The housing is located at the Mayfair Hotel on Miami Beach, with easy access to the Center.

Shelter Plus Care – Mayfair

The Shelter Plus Care Program provides rental support for homeless individuals with a psychiatric disability.  Individuals are required to pay no more than 30% of their monthly income on rent. The Center provides services equal to the value of the rent subsidy. The units are located at the Mayfair Hotel in Miami Beach.

Shelter Plus Care – Scattered Sites
The Shelter Plus Care – Scattered Sites program provides rental support for homeless individuals with a psychiatric disability.  Individuals are required to pay no more than 30% of their monthly income on rent. The Center provides services equal to the value of the rent subsidy. The units are located throughout Miami-Dade County. Individuals participating in this program may receive clinical services from providers of their choice.

Partners for Homes
Subsidized housing integrated in the community is available for individuals who have completed a transitional homeless program through the homeless trust continuum of care. Candidates access this program through their homeless services case manager.

3.- Residential Services

Golden Palms
Golden Palms is a 36-bed geriatric psychiatric residential treatment facility located in North Miami Beach for persons aged 55 and up. Golden Palms offers its chronic mentally ill residents a nurturing, supportive and structured environment. The Golden Palms staff is committed to providing nurturing residential care, psychiatric services, case management and therapeutic/recreational activities.

Douglas Gardens Community Mental Health Center

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

Effective April 14, 2003

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL/HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

OUR PLEDGE REGARDING MEDICAL/HEALTH INFORMATION:

We understand that the medical/health information about you and your health is personal.  We are committed to protecting medical/health information about you.  We create a record of the care and services you receive at the agency.  We need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements.  This notice applies to all of the records of your care created by Douglas Gardens Community Mental Health Center. 

This notice will tell you about the ways in which we may use and disclose medical/health information about you. We also describe your rights and certain obligations we have regarding the use and disclosure of medical/health information.

This notice is to inform you about our privacy practices and legal duties related to the protection of the privacy of your medical/health records that we create or receive. Generally, we are required by law to ensure that medical/health information that identifies you is kept private. We are required by law to follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.

This notice will explain how we may use and disclose your medical/health information, our obligations related to the use and disclosure of your medical/health information and your rights related to any medical/health information that we have about you. This notice applies to the medical/health and all other records that are generated in or by this agency.

We may obtain your consent for the use or disclosure of your protected health information for treatment, payment or health care operations. We are required to obtain your authorization for the use or disclosure of your information for other specific purposes or reasons. We have listed some of the types of uses or disclosures below. Not every possible use or disclosure is covered, but all of the ways that we are allowed to use and disclose information will fall into one of the categories.

If you have any questions about the content of this Notice of Privacy Practices, or if you need to contact someone at the agency about any of the information contained in this Notice of Privacy Practices, the contact person is the Privacy Officer:

In addition to agency departments, employees, staff and other agency personnel, the following people will also follow the practices described in this Notice of Privacy Practices:

• Any mental health or health care professional who is authorized to enter information in your medical/health record;
• Any member of a volunteer group that we allow to help you while you are under our care; 
• All staff at Golden Palms and Mayfair Residence; and
• All providers that Douglas Gardens Community Mental Health Center contracts with to provide services to our consumers.

These other individuals or providers are considered part of Douglas Gardens Community Mental Health Center’s Services and must follow the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices. In addition, individuals and providers working for or contracted with Douglas Gardens Community Mental Health Center may share medical/health information with each other for the purpose of treatment, payment, or health care operations as those terms are described in this Notice of Privacy Practices. These other individuals and providers are included throughout this document whenever we use the term "agency."

 HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE MEDICAL/HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose medical/health information. For each category of uses or disclosures we will explain what we mean and try to give some examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.

Use and Disclosure of Medical/Health Information that Requires Your Consent:

We can use or disclose medical information about you regarding your treatment, payment for services, or for agency operations, and we will have you sign a consent when you acknowledge your copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices. The consent form includes releasing all types of information such as mental health information as well as HIV and AIDS. The consent form also permits us to release information about you, which may be protected by 42 CFR Part 2 (a federal law protecting the confidentiality of alcohol or drug abuse treatment records).

Treatment We may use medical/health information about you to provide you with treatment or services. We may disclose medical/health information about you to qualified mental health professionals, or to qualified counselors; or, technicians, or other agency personnel, or volunteers who are involved in providing services for you at the agency, or interpreters needed in order to make your treatment accessible to you. For example, your treatment team members will internally discuss your medical/health information in order to develop and carry out a plan for your services. Different departments of the agency also may share medical/health information about you in order to coordinate the different things you need, such as prescriptions, medical tests, special dietary needs, respite care, personal assistance, day treatment programs, etc. We also may disclose medical/health information about you to people outside the agency who may be involved in your medical care after you leave the agency, such as our organized health care arrangement members or others we use to provide services that are part of your care, but only the minimum necessary amount of information will be used or disclosed to carry this out.

Payment We may use and disclose medical/health information about you so that the treatment and services you receive at the agency may be billed to and payment may be collected from you, an insurance company or a third party. For example, we may need to provide your insurance plan information about a service that was performed including documentation or information to Medicaid or Medicare so that they will pay us for the services that were performed. We may also tell your insurance plan or other payor about a service you are going to receive in order to obtain prior approval or to determine whether the service is covered.

Health Care Operations We may use and disclose medical/health information about you for agency operations. These uses and disclosures are necessary to run the agency and make sure that all of our consumers receive quality care. For example, we may use medical/health information for quality improvement to review our treatment and services and to evaluate the performance of our staff in caring for you. We may also combine medical information about many agency consumers to decide what additional services the agency should offer, what services are not needed, and whether certain new treatments are effective. We may also disclose information to doctors, nurses, technicians, and other agency personnel as listed above for review and learning purposes. We may also combine the medical/health information we have with medical/health information from other facilities to compare how we are doing and see where we can make improvements in the care and services we offer. It may also be necessary to obtain or exchange your information with The Florida Department of Children and Family Services, or other Florida agencies. We may remove information that identifies you from this set of medical information so others may use it to study health care and health care delivery without learning the identity of specific consumers.

Uses and Disclosures of Medical/Health Information That Do Not Require Your Consent or Authorization:

We can use or disclose medical/health information about you without your consent or authorization when there is an emergency or when we are required by law to treat you, when we are required by law to use or disclose certain information, or when there are substantial communication barriers to obtaining consent from you.

Appointment Reminders We may use and disclose medical/health information to contact you as a reminder that you have an appointment for treatment or services at the agency.

Treatment Alternatives and Health-Related Benefits and Services We may use and disclose medical/health information to tell you about or recommend possible treatment options or alternatives or health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you.

Individuals Involved in Disaster Relief Should a disaster occur, we may disclose medical/health information about you to any agency assisting in a disaster relief effort so that your family can be notified about your condition, status and location.

As Required By Law We will disclose medical/health information about you when required to do so by federal, state or local law. Examples: Please read below such as to notify authorities of child abuse or a serious threat to yourself or others

To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety We may use and disclose medical/health information about you when necessary to prevent a serious threat to the health and safety of you, the public, or any other person. However, any such disclosure would only be to someone able to help prevent the threat.

SPECIAL SITUATIONS

Organ and Tissue Donation If you are an organ donor, we may release medical/health information to organizations that handle organ procurement or organ, eye or tissue transplantation or to an organ donation bank, as necessary to facilitate organ or tissue donation and transplantation.

Military and Veterans If you are a member of the armed forces, we may release medical/health information about you as required by military command authorities. We may also release medical/health information about foreign military personnel to the appropriate foreign military authority.

Workers' Compensation When disclosure is necessary to comply with Workers’ Compensation laws or purposes, we may release medical/health information about you for workers' compensation or similar programs. These programs provide benefits for work-related injuries or illness.

Public Health Risks We may disclose medical/health information about you for public health activities. These activities generally include the following: to prevent or control disease, injury or disability; to report births and deaths; to report child or elderly abuse or neglect; to report reactions to medications or problems with products; to notify people of recalls of products they may be using; to notify a person who may have been exposed to a disease or may be at risk for contracting or spreading a disease or condition; to notify the appropriate government authority if we believe a consumer has been the victim of abuse, neglect or violence. We will only make this disclosure if you agree or when required or authorized by law.

Health Oversight Activities We may disclose medical/health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include, for example, audits, investigations, inspections, accreditation and licensure. These activities are necessary for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs, and compliance with civil rights laws.

Lawsuits and Disputes If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose medical/health information about you in response to a court or administrative order.

Law Enforcement We may release medical/health information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official; however, if the material is protected such as information covered by 42 CFR Part 2 (a federal law protecting the confidentiality of drug and alcohol abuse treatment records), or mental health records covered by Florida Statutes 394.4615, a court order is required. We may also release limited medical/health information to law enforcement in the following situations: (1) about a consumer who may be a victim of a crime if, under certain limited circumstances, we are unable to obtain the consumer’s agreement; (2) about a death we believe may be the result of criminal conduct; (3) about criminal conduct at the agency; (4) about a consumer where a consumer commits or threatens to commit a crime on the premises or against program staff or other consumers (in which case we may release the consumer’s name, address, and last known whereabouts); and, (5) in emergency circumstances, to report a crime, the location of the crime or victims, and the identity, description and/or location of the person who committed the crime.

Coroners, Medical Examiners and Funeral Directors We may release medical/health information to a coroner or medical examiner. This may be necessary, for example, to identify a deceased person or determine the cause of death. We may also release medical/health information about consumers of an agency to funeral directors as necessary to carry out their duties.

National Security and Intelligence Activities We may release medical/health information about you to authorized federal officials for intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities authorized by law.

Protective Services for the President and Others We may disclose medical/health information about you to authorized federal officials so they may conduct special investigations or provide protection to the President and other authorized persons or foreign heads of state.

Inmates If you are an inmate of a correctional institution or under the custody of a law enforcement official, we may release medical/health information about you to the correctional institution or law enforcement official if the release is necessary (1) for the institution to provide you with health care; (2) to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of others; or (3) for the safety and security of the correctional institution.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING MEDICAL/HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU.

You have the following rights regarding medical/health information we maintain about you:

Right to Inspect and Copy You have the right to inspect and have a copy made of your medical/health information with the exception of psychotherapy notes and information compiled in anticipation of litigation. To inspect and copy your medical/health information, you must submit your request in writing to this agency’s Health Information Management Department. If you request a copy of the information, we may charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request. We may deny your request to inspect and copy in certain very limited circumstances. If you are denied access to your medical/health information, you may request that the denial be reviewed. Another licensed health care professional chosen by the agency will review your request and the denial. The person conducting the review will not be the person who denied your request. We will comply with the outcome of the review.

Right to Request an Amendment If you feel that medical/health information we have about you is incorrect or incomplete; you may ask us to amend the information. You have the right to request an amendment for as long as the information is kept by or for the agency.

Requests for an amendment must be made in writing and submitted to the Privacy Officer or designee in the Health Information Management Department. You must provide a reason to support your request for an amendment. We may deny your request if it is not in writing or if it does not include a reason supporting the request. In addition, we may deny your request if you ask us to amend information that:

Was not created by us, unless the person or entity that created the information is no longer available to make the amendment; Is not part of the medical/health information kept by or for the agency; Is not part of the information which you would be permitted to inspect and copy; or is accurate and complete.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures You have the right to request an "accounting of disclosures", a list of the disclosures made by the agency of your medical/health information. We are not required to include in this accounting any disclosures required to carry out treatment, payment and healthcare operations, any disclosures previously made to you, and disclosures made for national security or law enforcement purposes. To request an accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing to this agency’s Health Information Management Department. Your request must state a time period which may not go back more than six years and may not include dates before April 14, 2003. The first list you request within a twelve-month period will be free. For additional lists in a twelve-month period, we may charge you for the cost of providing the list. We will notify you what that cost will be and give you an opportunity to withdraw or modify your request before you are charged.

Right to Request Restrictions You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the medical/health information we use or disclose about you for treatment, payment or health care operations. For example, you could ask that we not use or disclose information about your family history to a particular community provider. We are not required to agree to your request. If we do agree, we will comply with your request unless the information is needed to provide you emergency treatment. To request a restriction on the use or disclosure of your medical/health information for treatment, payment or health care operations, you must make your request in writing to the agency’s Privacy Officer or designee in the Health Information Management Department. In your request, you must tell us (1) what information you want to limit; (2) whether you want to limit our use, disclosure or both; and (3) to whom you want the limits to apply (for example, disclosures to your spouse).

Right to Request Confidential Communications You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your medical/health information in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you can ask that we only contact you at work to remind you of an appointment. To request confidential communications, you must make your request in writing to the agency’s Privacy Officer or designee. The form will be available at the front desk of our main location (701 Lincoln Road Second Floor) or you may ask anyone delivering care to you and they will pass the information to the Health Information Management Department. Your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted. We will not ask you the reason for your request and will accommodate all reasonable requests.

Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice You have the right to a paper copy of this notice. You may ask us to give you a copy of this notice at any time by contacting the agency’s Privacy Officer or designee.

If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact:

Fernando Nin, QI/QA Manager
Douglas Gardens Community Mental Health Center
1680 Meridian Avenue Suite #501
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
(305) 531-5341

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

We reserve the right to change this notice. We may make the revised notice effective for medical/health information we already have about you as well as any information we receive in the future. We will post a copy of the current notice in the agency. The notice will contain on the first page, in the center, the effective date. In addition, each time you register at or are admitted or apply for services to the agency for treatment or services, we will offer you a copy of the current notice in effect.

COMPLAINTS

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated,

• You may file a complaint with the agency or with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. You may call them at 877.696.6775 or write to them at 200 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, DC, 20201.
• You may file a grievance with the Office of Civil Rights by calling 866-OCR-PRIV (866.627.7748), or 886.788.4989 TTY.

To file a complaint with the agency, contact Privacy Officer or Designee:

Fernando Nin, QI/QA Manager
Douglas Gardens Community Mental Health Center
1680 Meridian Avenue Suite #501
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
(305) 531-5341

All complaints must be submitted in writing. You will not be penalized for filing a complaint.

OTHER USES OR DISCLOSURES OF MEDICAL/HEALTH INFORMATION.

Uses or disclosures not covered in this Notice of Privacy Practices will not be made without your written authorization. If you provide us written authorization to use or disclose information, you can change your mind and remove your authorization at any time, as long as it is in writing. If you revoke your authorization, we will no longer use or disclose the information. However, we will not be able to take back any disclosures that we have made pursuant to your previous authorization.