ECCM Mental Health Blog

Parents and caregivers lead the charge in early intervention, watching for and responding to signs of developmental disabilities such as autism at home, with a collaborative approach of listening, learning, and caring for child’s needs.

Through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, it’s been possible for low-income residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities to receive care remotely via telemental and telebehavioral health services through partner agencies. What can and can’t telehealth replace?

Given the early onset of many serious mental and psychological disorders, connecting to the proper youth mental health services is a must for our children and adolescents.

In PA, autistic adults often have difficulty connecting with the resources needed for a fuller life. Learn about ECCM’s more inclusive autism waiver program, the Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Waiver.

In parent-child interaction therapy, certified therapists coach parents on interactions with their child in real-time to reduce negative behaviors and strengthen the relationship. Find out why this therapy, originally used for disruptive behavior disorders, is increasingly being employed in autism early intervention plans. 

Like caring for ourselves, caring for others can be challenging. Care management careers are no different. However, if you enjoy collaborating in close tandem with others and affecting positive change, there may be no more rewarding occupation. Learn what makes care managers so unique and so valuable. 

Homelessness is a complex issue with many causes, but in many cases has a strong correlation with mental health. Because those with mental health or addiction issues are disproportionately affected by homelessness, ECCM makes a concerted effort to help these people find peace, stability, and hope through its Homelessness Behavioral Health and Shelter Plus programs.

By understanding each of the five domains of early childhood development (or human development) — physical, cognitive, communicative, socioemotional, and adaptive — parents can better track their child's progress and spot deficiencies early, when intervention services have proven most effective. 

A residential treatment facility monitors and manages the medical, psychological, and behavioral health of individuals, preparing them for safe and productive returns to the outside world if and when possible. Ideally, the individual will be able to focus solely on recovery without distraction or worry and enjoy better progress and results after the treatment. 

Residential treatment facilities can be categorized by how long they care for individuals, the issues or diagnoses they specialize in, and the methods or approaches they use in their treatments. 

An Individual Support Plan (ISP) lays the groundwork for caring for an individual with a developmental disability, such as autism. It is completed during the intake process to provide mental health services providers with a set of best practices centered around an individual’s (Person-Centered Planning) level of ability or functionality, as well as personal preferences, wants, and needs. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Individual Support Plan form clocks in at 34 pages. Here we break down each of the main sections and what they are trying to accomplish.