Family Enrichment Services

“The promotion of mental health and the prevention of mental and substance use conditions should be central to the public health agenda.”
– Mental Health America

The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that psychiatric disorders account for 5 of 10 most significant disabilities worldwide. We also know that nearly 50% of adults will be affected by a mental health or substance abuse problem at some point during their lifetimes, and the figures for children are similar. 

Treating mental illness is important, but promoting mental health is just as important, as it can reduce the later impact of a mental disability. WHO defines mental health as: “A state of well-being in which the individual realize his or her abilities, and cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.” At Middle Flint Behavioral Healthcare, we focus upon mental health in our Family Enrichment Centers. While mental health treatment is provided to all, a primary goal of these centers is to reduce severe and long-term mental illness by combining treatment with prevention and early intervention services, and by including the entire family in the treatment process.

Following are some of the services provided through our Family Enrichment Centers:

• Clinic Services.    These more traditional treatment services are provided in outpatient clinic settings, with full-time clinics operating in Americus and Cordele, as well as a part-time clinic in Oglethorpe.  Services are provided to both children and adults and include:
  • Counseling.  For individuals or families who need to talk with a trained provider, we offer individual, family, and group counseling.  Treatment is provided or supervised by licensed professionals, and confidentiality is ensured.
  • Psychiatric and Nursing Services. Our medical staff includes psychiatrists, physicians, RNs, and LPNs.  Available services include psychiatric and nursing assessment, administration of some medications, and medication counseling
  • Pharmacy. For individuals prescribed medication by one of our psychiatric/medical staff, we have pharmacy services available at our Americus and Cordele clinics. For individuals who do not have third-party payment coverage, we also work with pharmaceutical companies’ medication assistance programs to obtain cost reductions or drug samples. Only psychiatric (psychotropic) drugs are prescribed or filled at our clinics.
• Prevention and Early Intervention. In school, home, and community settings, Middle Flint provides prevention, early intervention and outreach services to both enrolled clients and the general public. Such services, when provided through the Family Enrichment Centers, focus upon children, adolescents, and families. Following are a few examples:
  • Prevention Program. Our full-time prevention coordinator provides or sponsors school and community substance abuse education for children and teenagers. We participate in activities ranging from Red Ribbon Week to evidence-based prevention and early intervention training curricula.
  • School-Based Services. Through programs such as Safe Schools/Healthy Students activities, school-based counselors and case managers provide assistance to at-risk children in school settings.
  • Specialized Groups. Training and awareness groups are often scheduled for families coping with specific problems, such as divorce or anger management. Individuals may be referred to our anger management groups by the courts as an alternative to jail, and our Seminars for Divorcing Parents meet court requirements for parent training when couples are divorcing.