ECCM Mental Health Blog

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.

Adolescence is a chaotic period for most people, but it can be especially trying for those struggling with cognitive or behavioral impairments. See if neuropsychological testing can benefit you or a loved one.

Is it a crime to be sick? Statistics show that individuals with mental illnesses are over four times more likely to be arrested for minor offenses than their mentally sound counterparts. Many of today’s prisons have become de facto psychiatric facilities, trying but often failing to keep with the special needs of their inmate patients.

Most cases of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Level 2 or 3 are identified at a very young age. The brain is most malleable before age 5, which makes early intervention programs, such as the one provided by Erie County Care Management, critical for the patient’s best long-term outlook.

But what about individuals classified as “high functioning?” Aspects of these individuals’ behavior may seem “off,” but they may otherwise be able to sustain a relatively independent lifestyle. In these cases, ASD may not be properly identified until early adulthood.