Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services

The Division of Planning Innovation develops and implements strategies to advance the transformation of Philadelphia’s behavioral health system to a recovery-oriented system of care using Public Health strategies. The key goals of this transformation include:

• Shift the treatment focus from “stabilization” to recovery responsive to the needs of people in recovery
• Empower people to direct their recovery journey
• Recognize and engage treatment providers, family members, and community-based supports and organizations as valuable partners in the recovery process
• Help people move beyond their limitations and toward fulfilling lives in the community

In order to advance this transformation, the Division of Planning Innovation develops a frameworks and strategies for the change process as well as initiatives that will advance the transformation. The key units within the Division include:

• 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.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Unit: Shifting the culture in a bold way by collecting, reporting, monitoring data, and building partnerships with various stakeholders.
• Trauma Transformation 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