In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lehigh County mental and behavioral health services have shifted to best assist patients while maintaining safety during the health crisis. There are resources and more information available on the Lehigh County website, under the human services heading.

Changes have been made to protocols at some of the county facilities to maintain the health and safety of the residents.

Horizon House administrative offices are open to support continued services, but staff are being directed to only come in when necessary and to follow all recommendations regarding social distancing and sanitization.

Effective March 19, site-based programs such as community integrated recovery centers will be closed for on-site services, but staff will continue to provide support to participants through telehealth. Staff will be working from home and contacting participants by phone.

KidsPeace has suspended all functional communication training and visits and stopped all large group functions and off-ground activities. Outside visitors are not permitted and nonessential points of contact have been reduced.

All KidsPeace outpatient locations in Lehigh and Monroe counties will continue to offer free walk-in mental health assessments by clinically trained professionals - no appointment needed. This will help relieve the pressure on hospitals and emergency rooms.

The locations include 801 E. Green St., Allentown, 610-799-8910; 451 W. Chew St., Suite 105 on St. Luke’s Sacred Heart Hospital campus, Allentown, 610-776-5465; 1620 Broadway, Bethlehem, 610-799-8600; and 1151 Pocono Boulevard, Suite 2, Mount Pocono, Monroe County, 570-243-8787.

The autism after- school therapeutic program in Bethlehem is temporarily closed, as of March 23.

TeenCentral.com is a confidential and anonymous service providing a range of information and encouragement to older kids and teens. They have the opportunity to submit questions and concerns and get an individualized response from clinical experts. This safe space is for young people who may have reluctance to discuss such matters with parents or other adults.

National Alliance on Mental Illness has moved its peer and family support groups to Zoom. There are also check-in groups for anyone to join. Contact info@nami-lv.org to join the groups.

Omni Health Services has moved to doing therapy appointments, as well as medication management checks with doctors, over the phone.

Pinebrook Family Answers remains open and is doing behavioral health services via telehealth. Clients are being contacted by clerical staff or by their primary provider to arrange telehealth services but can contact the appropriate office for more details.

For other essential services that are not able to be done remotely, staff members are continuing services face-to-face while following CDC guidelines for social distancing and hygiene practices.

Salisbury Behavioral Health is offering telehealth services to individuals interested in maintaining services.

St. Luke’s University Health Network clients are receiving daily telehealth visits.

All essential Valley Youth House locations will remain open to include Lehigh Valley Shelter and supervised independent living locations. Reach out to info@valleyyouthhouse.org with any questions or concerns.

Case managers are providing services remotely and over the phone. They are meeting clients in homes or the community on a case-by-case basis after a COVID-19 screening is completed. They continue to provide on-call services as needed.

Behavior consultants and mobile therapists have moved to telehealth services. Behavioral health technicians may continue to provide services in the home if families are willing to let them in the home.

Clinicians have been providing family-based services over the phone to clients and families since the emergency shutdown March 12. Effective March 20, clinicians will also be offering telehealth services to clients and their families.

The county substance use assessments program will provide video conferencing assessments to clients as referrals are received.

As anxiety grows concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services reported it is monitoring the volume of calls received on behavioral health crisis lines to avoid overwhelming those manning the lines.

Some crisis line options include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration disaster distress line at 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746; the crisis text line by sending “PA” to 741741; and the Optum public crisis line at 866-342-6892.