UPMC Western Behavioral Health of the Alleghenies (WBHA)

BCM is a community-based service for children and teens with a qualifying mental, emotional, or behavioral health issue.

While our main focus is helping kids, our team helps the whole family access resources for a happier, healthier life.

The BCM team:

• Provides a strength-based assessment of each person's needs.
• Promotes individualized education programs for your child and family.
• Helps you with issues that affect your child's well-being such as housing, legal trouble, finances, and health insurance access.
• Keeps your child's doctor informed.
• Makes suggestions for therapy.
• Links your child to after-school activities.
• Holds routine meetings that fit your family's schedule.

A behavior specialist or mobile therapist works with your child and family in your home, school, and community.

They help reach goals established by a caring treatment team that includes your family, school personnel, and behavioral health experts.

A team of counselors can help your child with a range of behavioral health concerns in an outpatient clinic or school setting.

We have years of experience treating kids and teens who suffer from issues such as:

• Trauma
• Grief and loss
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Attention and impulse disorders
• Family conflicts
• School troubles
• Bullying

CAPH is a full-day program of intensive one-on-one, family, and group counseling.

We also offer:

• Assessments for kids who have serious emotional and behavioral issues that impact critical areas of their lives, such as school performance.
• Telepsychiatry, using technology to bring your child the best doctors in the world.
• Students and teachers attaining renewed strength (STARS). STARS provides support during your child's transition back into the community after discharge from CAPH.

PCIT is a proven coaching technique for caregivers and kids, ages 2-7 years, that focuses on:

• Decreasing your child's disruptive behaviors.
• Increasing the pro-social behaviors that your and family would like to see.
• Strengthening your bond with your child.
• We coach through a one-way mirror so we can offer real-time interventions.

BCM/RC are community-based services for adults with serious mental illnesses.

Our team helps you and your family to access the resources and community services you need to have a happier, healthier life.

We can also help you with:

• Housing
• Legal issues
• Finances
• Health insurance access

Walk-ins are available for:

• Adult partial hospitalization
• Center for Counseling
• Drug and alcohol

Call 814-943-0414 for dates and times that are available.

APH group therapy helps you increase independence to reduce the need for inpatient treatment.

Psychiatric assessment and medication management are vital parts of the program.

CFC offers group and one-on-one outpatient mental health treatment for adults and families.

Group sessions use insight therapy — a type of talk therapy. This form of treatment helps you gain insight into your thoughts and actions so you can make changes.

Secure, real-time audio and video connects mental health experts to adults in both APH and CFC.

Treatments for adults dealing with chemical dependency and abuse include:

• Intensive outpatient
• One-on-one and group therapy
• Aftercare

People who have lived with mental illness provide person-centered and recovery-focused peer support.

This service focuses on bridging the gap between physical and mental health to treat the whole person and is for people receiving BCM/RC or PSS.

This psychiatric rehab program gives you the chance to learn work social skills and gain independence.

Lexington Clubhouse
911 Lexington Avenue
Altoona, PA 16601
814-940-6065

Projects in the Assistance of Transition from Homelessness (PATH), Blair House, and Juniata House are for the homeless or those at risk for becoming homeless.

PATH is an outreach program that can assess and connect with other housing programs.

Our housing locations:

Blair House
230 6th Avenue
Altoona, PA 16602

Juniata House
209 North 9th Avenue
Altoona, PA 16601

This program provides personal care housing to those receiving services from the Blair county mental health system. Licensed by the Pa. Department of Public Welfare.

Tartaglio Personal Care Home
1911 12th Avenue
Altoona, PA 16601
814-946-1885

ACEL
154 Lakemont Park Boulevard
Altoona, PA 16602
814-944-8179

ACEL day program

ACEL provides a safe place during the day for adults with developmental and physical disabilities.

Nestled around the edge of Lakemont Park, ACEL's location gives adults the chance to be part of their community.

The ACEL day program offers:

• Day trips to nearby parks, restaurants, and shopping malls.
• Exercise, music, dance, reading, and more.
• Arts in Healing — a creative outlet run by resident artists from the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art.

ACEL in-home care

Our staff tailors a care plan to meet the needs of each person and requests from their loved ones, such as:

• Helping with daily living tasks.
• Planning meals and grocery shopping.
• Driving to doctor appointments.
• Offering friendship through social activities.
• Providing respite to families.

ACEL Agency With Choice

Our staff works with adults and/or their family (referred to as the surrogate) by entering a joint-employment arrangement.

This partnership gives you or your surrogate:

• A high level of choice and control over services and supports.
• The chance to recruit, refer, choose, hire, train and schedule your own staff.
• Control your own schedule and activities.
• The choice of where, when, and how to receive needed services.