Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services

The Division of Planning Innovation advances Philadelphia’s behavioral health system using population health, data-driven, and community-focused strategies.

The division supports a variety of community-based initiatives designed to mitigate the effects of traumas experienced by individuals and communities. The division strives to promote access to behavioral wellness and treatment services for individuals residing in Philadelphia.

Among the division’s primary activities and units are:

• Developing innovative strategies and initiatives to highlight the importance of behavioral health wellness in the community.
• Recognizing and engaging treatment providers, family members, and community-based supports and organizations as valuable partners in healing from traumas experienced in the community.
• Coordinating systemwide community outreach activities increase awareness of behavioral health wellness and support services.
• Community Affairs Unit: Ensuring awareness and access to behavioral health and wellness resources for all communities through targeted outreach, peer support, innovative programming, and DBHIDS’ presence in the community.
• Peer Culture and Community Inclusion Unit: Drives innovative advances in Peer-led, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed systems through training, occupational wellness support, and provider technical assistance grounded in the DBHIDS Peer Support Toolkit.
• Immigrant Affairs and Language Access Services: Ensuring immigrant and refugee communities across Philadelphia have access to DBHIDS services and resources that are culturally and linguistically responsive.
• Trauma Response and Emergency Preparedness Unit: Supporting communities, schools, and organizations impacted by trauma including violence, loss, and ongoing circumstances of heightened stress within communities.
• Research Unit: Applies tools from research, epidemiology, and evaluation fields to support decision making in DBHIDS