In order to effectively meet the needs of consumers, Development Centers, Inc. operates a separate department, staffed by trained professionals, that screens the incoming referrals/requests for service. In addition to maintaining our commitment to providing comprehensive behavioral healthcare services in a timely manner to our core consumers (adults with serious mental illness, children and adolescents with severe emotional/behavioral problems, and infants and toddlers with developmental delays &/or who are at risk to develop emotional and behavioral problems) Development Centers. Inc. maintains agreements with several Medicaid Health Plans and a couple of commercial insurances to provide services to consumers who generally are less seriously &/or chronically impaired.

Generally, we encourage referrals to be made by phone. It is important for callers to be able to provide important information about the person they are seeking help for (whether calling for themselves or another). Information such as, a brief description of the consumers presenting problems/symptoms, a brief psychiatric history, including diagnosis and current medications (if any), previous psychiatric history (if exists), and current behavioral status are most helpful and often necessary. If this type of information is readily available at the time of the call the referred consumer can be properly screened, eligibility determined, and if eligible, directed to the proper service. In a some cases referrals/requests for service are screened first within a department and then forwarded to the Access Department (Early Childhood & Family Services, School Based Programs - see their specific program links for more info).

Referrals can be made by calling the Access Department between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,
Monday - Friday.