SOUTHEAST MISSOURI MENTAL HEALTH CENTER (SMMHC) is a state operated facility providing adult inpatient health services for southeast Missouri. The facility staff works closely with outpatient mental health agencies as well as substance abuse treatment programs in order to assure follow-up services. SMMHC is accredited by JCAHO and certified by Medicare and Medicaid. It is under the auspices of the Missouri Department of  Mental Health, Division of Comprehensive Psychiatric Services.

SMMHC is a 178 bed facility, staffed by 550 employees including twelve social workers. They are committed to serving persons with serious and persistent mental illness, persons suffering from acute psychiatric conditions, and individuals in crisis. There are three distinct service areas: Acute/Intermediate, Forensic, and Emergency  Room.

Acute/Intermediate Services provides short term inpatient psychiatric treatment. Average length of stay is seven days. Social Workers assigned to Acute Services (8) work closely with other health care disciplines. Duties include community liaison, group and individual therapies and discharge planning.

Forensic Services has three locked units and three open campus group homes. This services provides long-term treatment for court committed clients who have been found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity or Not Competent to Proceed.  Forensic Service also does outpatient and inpatient pre-trial evaluation for circuit court. Social Workers (4) work as a part of a multidisciplinary team. There is an emphasis on progression through a highly defined treatment program.

The Emergency Room screens over 200 clients and handles over 200 crisis calls per month. Every person is screened and assessed by a registered nurse, social worker and physician. The ER offers a 23-hour unit for extended observation and evaluation. Four Master’s level social workers are assigned to ER.

THE FIELD EXPERIENCE FOR THE BSW CANDIDATE:  Field Education students may be assigned to any of the treatment services described above.

• Acute Services: The BSW level student will work closely with a Clinical Casework Assistant and MSW on an assigned acute ward using a multi-discipline approach. Duties will include: attend treatment team meetings, obtain collateral clinical information to present to the treatment team and complete comprehensive social histories, assist in discharge planning, assist in completing community agency referral paperwork, assist with some patient education groups.
• Forensic Services: Work closely with the Clinical Casework Assistant and/or MSW on a forensic ward.  Duties will include: attend weekly team meetings, obtain collateral information for assigned social histories, assist with risk assessments, assist with patient education groups, assist with compiling court/forensic reports, and assist with treatment plan reviews/updates.
• Emergency Services: Will work closely with an MSW in taking phone calls referrals, completing screening intake information, obtaining collateral information. 

Students must attend a two-day orientation, pass a criminal background check and drug screen test prior to acceptance. Micro, mezzo and macro practice level experiences are available with the emphasis on micro and mezzo.  Field instructors are MSW’s with extensive mental health experience.

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