Military Services and Family Support program

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

The San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) Military Services and Family Support (MSFS) program focuses on providing free and confidential prevention and early intervention (PEI) services to military veterans, active duty and retired military personnel, reservists, and members of the National Guard, and their families, while addressing the unique challenges of military life. The MSFS program works in collaboration with the San Bernardino County Department of Veterans Affairs and other community agencies to increase access to mental health services and decrease stigma associated with receiving services by delivering program services in the homes of participants, as well as at various sites that are conveniently located throughout San Bernardino County. Services include, but are not limited to, behavioral health assessments, rehabilitative support, family services, case management, screenings, individual and/or family counseling, and short-term mental health services for those experiencing the early on-set of a mental illness. MSFS providers use evidence-based practices, promising practices and several tools to measure the effectiveness of interventions. The MSFS program has yielded significant results, including a decrease in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among participants.