Behavioral Health and Recovery Services is a high quality county department. We utilize many well-respected evidence-based approaches, and are constantly working to improve our ability to serve people of multiple cultures or having complex problems. However what we really hope comes through on our website is that we believe that individuals with mental illnesses or addictions can recover and rejoin us as members of a thriving community.
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Services Offered
Adult System of Care
Each population center in Kern County has a geographically located service provider with resources to provide a wide range of behavioral health services. These services may include: - Medication - Individual and Group Counseling - Rehabilitation and Recovery Services - Access to Needed Resources - Family Counseling - And a variety of diagnostic and advocacy services
All of these services are provided in the community near where you live. These are the services that the Kern County MHP thinks are most likely to help people who need services from us. Sometimes other services may be needed, they will be provided based on individual needs.
Children's System of Care
The Children's System of Care including contracted Medi-cal providers, provides mental health and substance abuse services and the resources necessary to promote wellness and recovery for Kern County children and their families. Kern County Mental Health provides services that are consumer centered, racially and culturally appropriate, flexible, with a focus on individual/family's strengths, to promote positive peer and professional relationships, and incorporate each individual/family's natural support system within the treatment process. Services may include, but are not limited to: - Screening / Triage - Assessment - Psychiatric Services - Medication Management - Medication Support - Psychological Testing - Individual, Group, and/or Family Therapy - Psychoeducation - Individual/Group Rehabilitation Services - Social Skills Groups - Targeted Case Management
Evidence based treatment services such as Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Functional Family Therapy (FFT), and Aggression Replacement Training (ART) may be provided to some families. All services are provided in the client's preferred language.
Substance Use Disorder Treatment
On behalf of Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services and our substance abuse treatment provider community, We welcome you to theses pages where you will be able to access information about the impact of drug and alcohol use on our communities. We also provide you with information about resources available to help those in our community who are affected by drug and alcohol use. We do believe that drug addiction is treatable and we promote the use of interventions that have proven to work at reducing or eliminating substance use. We also believe that drug use is preventable and you will learn about community efforts that seek to prevent drug use by presenting opportunities for youth to engage in peer directed, productive activities. At Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, we understand the complexities of substance use problems among youth and adults. Dealing with these is not easy, but there are people who can and know how to help. We hope that you will find information that is useful in answering some of your questions and that you will feel free to contact us if you need additional help.
Fees and Payment
Please visit or call our office for your insurance, payment and program eligibility inquiries.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Medicare Medicaid
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Qualifying for assistance from California's program usually depends on the severity of your condition and financial circumstance. Read our full guide to California's program.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.