As early as 1988, the Department of Public Health (which sponsored the Offices of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and the Coordinating Office of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Programs) asked PMHCC to function as an umbrella organization for new projects and programs and to provide administrative support to these entities.  PMHCC serves as an “incubator,” facilitating operation of those entities capable of independent functioning.  Examples are Consumer Satisfaction Team (CST)and Community Behavioral Health (CBH), 1260 Housing Development Corporation(HDC), Community Treatment Teams (CTT), which stand alone as private, not-for-profit corporations.

History and Accomplishments

In 1988, as part of the Robert Wood Johnson grant, PMHCC established the 1260 Housing Development Corporation (1260 HDC) for the purpose of creating independent, affordable housing for people with behavioral health issues and their families.  1260 HDC was instrumental in helping to close down Philadelphia State Hospital. This corporation develops, owns, and manages a wide range of residential options, including apartments and homes, located throughout the City. Currently over 1,000 people are 1260 HDC special-needs tenants, and additional housing options are currently under development.  In 2018, 1260 HDC contracted directly with the City and no longer receives support services from PMHCC.

When the Commonwealth closed Philadelphia State Hospital in 1989, PMHCC provided support to a newly created State initiative, the Community Treatment Teams (CTT), an organization which provided intensive and comprehensive case management services to persons transitioning from the hospital into the community.   Six years later, in 1995, the CTT became an independent organization under the auspices of the Philadelphia Office of Mental Health and, subsequently, the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health.  CTT is a not-for-profit corporation with support services provided by PMHCC.

In anticipation of mandatory Medical Assistance (MA) managed care, the City created a PMHCC managed care behavioral health entity in 1991 to prepare for the time Philadelphia would fiscally manage the MA funds for mental health and substance abuse services.  With the advent of HealthChoices, the Commonwealth’s mandatory managed care plan for people on medical assistance, this entity became, as anticipated, an independent organization, Community Behavioral Health (CBH), which now manages behavioral health services for approximately half a million people on Medical Assistance.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services (now, Intellectual disAbility Services) was established as a separate arm of city government encompassing the Office of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services, Coordinating Office of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Programs and Community Behavioral Health.  PMHCC is proud to have played a pioneering and sustaining role in this development supporting the current service system transformation with an emphasis on the recovery and strengthened resiliency of those Philadelphians most in need.

PMHCC also supports various initiatives in support of the Department of Public Health, Department of Human Services and Office of Homeless Services.  Supports include facilitation of staff engaged in the development of electronic medical records, staff supporting community based children services and provision of rental subsidies to homeless individuals and families.