Better Morning is certified by the DC Department of Behavioral Health as a Core Services Agency (CSA). As a Core Service Agency, Better Morning provides four Core Services to child/ youth and adults and one evidenced based service (EBP).
Better Morning is staffed with Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional counselors, a team of licensed therapists and a team of experienced Bachelor and Masters level Community Support Specialists, Registered Psychiatric Nurses, and a number of part-time Psychiatrists. All the staff work together in Multi-disciplinary teams to Provide Mental Health Rehabilitation Services to child/youth and adults. We also operate a 24/7 on-call service to meet Clients’ needs.
- Diagnostic and Assessment
- Medication Management
- Community Support
- Counseling
Diagnostic Assessment
To make an appointment with Better Morning contact the DC Department of Behavioral Health’s Access Help Line at 1-888-793-4357. The Access Help Line is a 24-hour service offered by the Department of Behavioral Health and is the first step of the intake process.
Diagnostic Assessments are completed as part of the intake process. The Diagnostic Assessment is comprehensive in scope to lay the foundation of treatment planning, ensuring the consumer’s needs and goals are identified and remain the focus throughout the treatment process.
Medication Management
Medication is a personal choice. Better Morning provides psychiatric services including meeting with a psychiatrist to evaluate and discuss the possible need for and benefits of medication management. Medications are prescribed when both the doctor and the consumer agree that medication will assist with managing the presenting symptoms of the consumer’s mental illness.
We encourage our consumers to meet with the psychiatrist monthly to monitor for possible side effects and to evaluate the effectiveness of the medication prescribed. Better Morning is credentialled with most of the private insurances like Aetna, CareFirst, Anthem BSBS, Cigna, United Health Care, Medicare.
Community Support
Upon completing intake, each consumer is assigned a Community Support Worker (CSW) to assist them with navigating the DC mental health system including applying for benefits, completing steps necessary to obtain housing and employment services as well as keeping up with vital personal care such as obtaining a primary care physician to ensure any physical health concerns are being addressed. CSWs assist with linking consumers to shelter, food pantry’s and other resources throughout the District.
Counseling and Psychotherapy
In addition to learning skills to help consumer’s live independently in the community, Better Morning also offers therapy to address issues that may be interfering with the consumer’s desire to truly be part of their own lives, whether it be due to past trauma, current stressors or a general feeling of depression. Therapy appointments are scheduled at least once a week and are focused on assisting consumer’s with exploring and resolving past issues while also learning to cope with current life struggles.
We accept all major private health insurance carriers, out of pocket payments and payments through credit cards.