Adult Behavioral Health

Intake Team

Our Adult Behavioral Health Intake Team provides access to information and referral to the services provided at Olmsted County as well as information about services in our community. If you are unsure how to find services for your mental or behavioral health, call the intake line at 507-328-6558.

Targeted Case Management

The Adult Behavioral Health unit provides case management services to persons who have been diagnosed with a Serious and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) by a mental health professional. The State of Minnesota has defined the criteria for SPMI as follows:

  • The adult has undergone two or more episodes of inpatient care for a mental illness within the preceding 24 months.
  • The adult has experienced a continuous psychiatric hospitalization or residential treatment exceeding six months duration with the preceding 12 months.
  • The adult has a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, or borderline personality disorder.
  • A court has, in the last three years, committed the adult as a mentally ill person under chapter 253B or the adult's commitment has been stayed or continued.

Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)

ACT is an intensive nonresidential treatment which involves rehabilitative mental health services. ACT helps people become independent and integrate into the community as they experience recovery. ACT provides a single, fixed point of responsibility for treatment, rehabilitation, and support. Services are offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in a community-based setting.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) 

The Olmsted County DBT Program is a nationally certified intensive outpatient program that serves adult men and women. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidenced-based practice shown to be the most effective form of treatment available for reducing suicide and self-injury and improving the quality of life for persons with Borderline Personality Disorder and/or other mental health diagnoses.

Research has demonstrated that DBT is the most effective form of treatment available for reducing suicide and self-injury, and improving quality of life for persons with Borderline Personality Disorder.

The program combines DBT with coordinated community support services with the goal of reducing the need for hospitalization and increasing the individual’s ability to participate in community living.

Criteria for admission to the program include:

  • 18 years of age or older
  • Meet one of the following criteria:
    • Have a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder; or
    • Have a mental health diagnosis and exhibit behaviors characterized by impulsivity, intentional self-harm behavior, and be at significant risk of death, disability, or severe problems across multiple life areas.
  • Be at significant risk of one or more of the following if DBT is not provided
    • Mental health crisis
    • Requiring a more restrictive setting such as hospitalization
    • Decompensation
    • Engaging in intentional self-harm behavior.

Program Components:

  • Skills Training group meet weekly for 2 ½ hours
  • Access to skills coaching via phone 24 hours/day 7 days/wee
  • Individual therapy once per week
  • Consultation to the therapists

Considering DBT?

  • DBT classes are held once a week: Mon. 1 - 3:30 p.m.; OR Tues. 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.; OR Tues. 4 - 6 p.m.; OR Wed. 2:30 - 5 p.m.
  • DBT is a one-year commitment. If you have a case manager, you will continue to meet with your case manager once a month.
  • The Skills phone will be available to you for coaching 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These coaching calls are a brief, 5-10 minute call. The call is skill-driven and not meant to be a therapy call. We encourage you to use the skills phone for coaching when a problem arises, or before. It is recommended that a skills call be initiated at least once a week.
  • You will be completing a diary card every day on skills you have been practicing and presenting in group. You will be using a therapy card to track target behaviors/urges, etc. and share individually with your therapist, weekly.
  • When joining DBT, you are required to attend regular psychiatry appointments and stay medication-compliant. Due to the State’s DBT certification requirements, you are also required to participate in weekly DBT therapy, which is provided by a licensed therapist with the Olmsted County DBT Program. If you have a current therapist, we do require you to stop seeing the therapist while you are in the DBT Program. Most clients who participate in our program find their current therapist is willing to work with them again if needed after they have completed the one-year DBT Program.
  • Upon your commitment to DBT, you will participate in 3-4 orientation sessions with DBT therapists. Group rules, diagnosis information, bio-social theory, explanation of the modules, and how to fill out a diary card and behavior chain analysis, etc. will be explained.
  • Attendance is essential if you want to change your life. In order to learn the skills, you must show up! Members will not be allowed to return to the group after four missed sessions. This is also expected in weekly individual DBT therapy.

Make a referral for DBT using the form below.

Please contact us at 507-328-6400 if you have questions or would like to make a referral.

Substance Use Services 

Services are provided to clients in Olmsted County include:

  • Information and referral.
  • Rule 24 and 25 assessments for placement and funding of chemical dependency treatment and brief case management of persons accessing funding.
  • The goal of services is to provide appropriate assessment and treatment to eligible individuals.
  • Information and referral are provided to all individuals requesting this service by Chemical Dependency Intake.
  • Rule 25 assesses the appropriate level of chemical dependency treatment and Rule 24 determines financial eligibility for funding.
  • Case management services provide ongoing monitoring of individuals engaged in treatment and early recovery. There are specific criteria for the levels of care provided by chemical dependency treatment programs.
  • There are specific income guidelines for eligibility for state funding.

Other adult chemical dependency services include CRAFT, a program for women who are pregnant or recently delivered and who are abusing chemicals; several other programs for incarcerated or individuals on probation include a jail-based CD treatment readiness offering and several licensed outpatient treatment groups.

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