Intensive Community Support

The Intensive Community Support (ICS) program provides short-term, intensive, flexible services to individuals to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, allow for earlier discharge if currently hospitalized or interrupt a cycle of recurrent crises. In addition to outreach services delivered in the community, ICS also offers short-term residential respite services where individuals receive 24-hour staff supervision and support.

ICS features a team of professionals that includes, among other professionals, a psychiatrist and a licensed social worker. Individuals who do not already receive psychopharmacology services in a community setting can be provided with this service from the program psychiatrist. Individualized Service Plans are tailored to the person’s unique needs and may include such services as vocational/educational assistance, job and housing searches, short-term therapy, assistance, support and education regarding activities of daily living, and medication monitoring and education.

Intakes are conducted immediately upon referral and admissions occur at the moment the individual needs the service. The ICS program is time-limited, with the expectation that most discharges will occur within 30 days. As individuals become ready for discharge, they are linked to longer-term services in the community.

Referrals to ICS are made through the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health.