Rochester Psychiatric Center
Community Services

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Outpatient Mental Health Services:

Steve Schwarzkopf Community Mental Health Center (SSCMHC)

The Steve Schwarzkopf Community Mental Health Center provides effective, innovative, evidence-based treatment and services to underserved individuals challenged with serious and persistent mental illness.

The center strives to form a collaborative relationship with individuals by using a person-centered, strengths based approach. The SSCMHC focuses on working with individuals who have experienced difficulties with connecting to traditional mental health services in areas including:

Recovery plans that address personal recovery goals

• Each individual will have a personal plan that is specific to their needs, wants, dreams and goals.
• This plan will be completed with the individual and staff member.

Outreach connections with support groups in the community

• The clinic staff will help clients to find and connect with interests within the community such as: volunteering, support groups, community activities, and other agencies such as the Creative Wellness Coalition and the Mental Health Association.

Individual and Family education related to symptom recognition

• The clinic staff will help clients and their families to better understand their illness and expand on their relationships.

Relapse prevention

• The clinic staff and client will continuously review personal goals and help to work through any challenges that may arise.

Spiritual and Cultural literacy

• The clinic staff will be educated and sensitive to different cultures and beliefs in order to best serve their clients

Vocational and Community Supports

• Each client will have assistance in job searching and/or career development if he/she wishes to pursue a job or continue their education.

Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)

• The clinic staff will help the client to identify what helps and what does not help their mental health recovery.

Social Skills

• Each client will identify what skills he/she would like to work on and have the opportunity to work one-on-one or attend groups to assist in their skills development.

Smoking Cessation Support

• The clinic will offer support to help clients quite smoking

Physical and Pharmacological Support

• The clinic will offer different groups such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy to help clients address their identified challenges and meet their goals.
• The staff will also offer help with medication management and prescription evaluations.

SSCMHC Client Handbook (PDF)

Prepaid Mental Health Plan (PMHP)

The Rochester Psychiatric Center's Prepaid Mental Health Plan has a primary function of offering a continuum of Mental Health services to people usually 65 and older, discharged from Rochester Psychiatric Center. The PMHP is a program designed to enhance the transition of individuals leaving Rochester Psychiatric Center and moving into community settings, most often but not limited to skilled nursing facilities or adult proprietary homes. Services will be provided in a Person Center Approach and participants at all times will be treated in a dignified and respectful manner. The PMHP goal is to enhance the lives of individuals discharged from Rochester Psychiatric Center through case management and supportive services. Participation in PMHP is voluntary and is limited to Office of Mental Health outpatients who receive SSI benefits and Medicaid. Eligibility starts usually at age 65.

The ultimate goal of PMHP is to provide needed services to a specific population in order to promote the highest quality of care while living in community settings. This goal is accomplished through the support of Personal Service Coordinators and the monitoring and consultation of assigned Psychiatrists and/or Nurse Practitioners.

Adult Residential Services:

Alternate Living Residence (ALR)

The Alternate Living Residence is a co-ed outpatient residential program located on the grounds of Rochester Psychiatric Center at 1111 Elmwood Avenue in Rochester, NY. It is designed to provide short-term (21 days) 24 hour residential support to adult mental health consumers who are experiencing a situational crisis. In addition, the ALR can also provide respite services for those who require a brief time away from their current community based living setting. The individual must currently be receiving mental health treatment in the community and referrals are typically initiated by the primary mental health therapist. The individual is expected to be psychiatrically stable, able to perform self care tasks, take medications independently and attend all scheduled community based appointments while at ALR. The ALR is staffed 24 hours a day. The staff provides support and will assist the individual in working with their community supports to strengthen their connections with medical, psychiatric, social and cultural linkages that facilitate his or her successful return to community living.

ALR Handbook (PDF)

John Romano Community Residence (JRCR)

The John Romano Community Residence is a 12 bed co-ed State Operated Community Residence located on the Rochester Psychiatric Center grounds. The majority of individuals referred come from Rochester Psychiatric Center and often benefit from the level of support the JRCR can provide. There is no minimum length of stay and all admissions are on a voluntary basis; the maximum stay is 24 months. Residents work to build skills that will enable them to live in a more independent setting. While group activities are scheduled weekly, residents are encouraged to reconnect to the community and natural supports. It is an expectation that all residents participate in activities which will promote recovery.

John Romano Community Residence Handbook (PDF)

Elmwood Transitional Residence (ETR)

The Elmwood Transitional Residence is also a State Operated Community Residence located on the grounds of the Rochester Psychiatric Center. It is a 24-hour, 7 days a week program providing residential and transitional services. The program is designed to provide rehabilitative services to outpatients who need additional help to prepare for living in a more independent setting. The residents have been discharged from an inpatient psychiatric hospital (frequently Rochester Psychiatric Center) and are clinically followed by community mental health centers. The length of stay is designed to be person centered, with most residents leaving within six to twelve months.

Elmwood Tr Handbook (PDF)

Family Care Program (FC)

Family Care is a residential service which provides a home for individuals who are recovering from mental illness. This program is designed to offer supervised and supported community living within private family settings. Residents receive the kind of support, guidance and companionship that naturally occurs in families and communities.

The Family Care Program is sponsored through Rochester Psychiatric Center and consists of Community Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers and Rehabilitation Specialists who fill the roles of Family Care Specialists. The Family Care Specialist is responsible for overseeing the Family Care home, which includes 1) meeting with both resident and provider on a monthly basis to monitor medications and general well being 2) ensuring each residents needs are met both medically and psychiatrically 3) ensuring the FC Provider maintains training requirements.

The Family Care Program serves a five county area which include Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties. In each of these areas there are people within those communities who have become certified by the Office of Mental Health and the Family Care Program to care and assist for residents within their homes. The provider's most important requirements are to provide understanding, patience and security to those individuals in their home recovering from mental illness.

Family Care Program Handbook (PDF)

Vocational Services:

• Career Support Services (CSS)
• Career Support Services provides people seeking employment with evidence based supported employment services. People are assisted in finding jobs that match their preferences, strengths, experiences and unique challenges. Employment services are integrated with mental health treatment and based on person centered planning principles. The job plan, the pace of searching for a job and the method of finding a job are based on the individuals' choices.

We offer an array of services including but not limited to: career planning, resume preparation, interview skills practice, benefits planning, educational resources, job search, connection to community resources related to vocational goals, person centered planning , topic specific workshops and long-term supports. An essential component of this service is ongoing support after hire provided in the form of vocational counseling, problem solving, employer intervention, and other supports defined/ requested by the consumers.

For further information regarding any of these programs, please call (585) 241-1200.

Comments or questions about the information on this page can be directed to the Rochester Psychiatric Center Administration.