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. Using a framework of equity, the division strives to promote access to behavioral wellness and treatment services for individuals residing in Philadelphia. Among its primary activities and units are:

• Developing innovative strategies and initiatives to highlight the importance of behavioral health wellness in the community through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• 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: The DBHIDS Community Affairs Unit works to ensure that all Philadelphians have access to wellness, recovery, and peer-support services in their own communities with the support of the Community Outreach and Engagement Unit, the Community Wellness Engagement Unit, and the Peer Culture and Community Inclusion Unit.
• Immigrant Affairs: The Department’s mission and vision vision guide our Immigrant/Refugee Affairs and Language Access Services. Through our collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, we develop and implement programs and initiatives that improve access to behavioral health and intellectual disability resources for the residents of Philadelphia and services and treatment modalities for those who are under-insured, uninsured, and have medical assistance coverage.
• Trauma Response and Emergency Preparedness Unit: Fostering a greater awareness and understanding of the unique needs of individuals affected by trauma
• Research Unit: Applies tools from research, epidemiology, and evaluation fields to support decision making in DBHIDS