PCHC has received a grant from the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council to look at Dual Diagnosis Services and Supports across the State. This grant provides money for all the Pennsylvania Health Care Quality Units, like PCHC, to work together. Our goal is to better understand how to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who also have mental illness get the services and supports from the mental/behavioral health system.

All the HCQUs have been holding focus groups for behavioral health stakeholders to find out what they need to open doors for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The grant project is also gathering information from professionals who have written articles about how best to provide support and services to people with dual diagnosis.

Once we have gathered information across the State, the HCQUs and interested stakeholders will create a roadmap for advocacy which will include working on issues from many different directions. The Grant, funded for two years beginning in October of 2008, will also develop a curriculum to help stakeholders better serve and support people with dual diagnosis.

As we progress with the Grant, we will share information from the focus groups and the articles about services and supports for people with dual diagnosis. Look for future updates on Recovery and Peer Support!