The first planning consideration of a group or organization interested in developing one of the supportive services is which behavioral health issue you will address.
- Mental Health
- Serious mental health problems (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
- Specific mental health problems (e.g., depression, eating disorders)
- Substance Abuse
- Alcohol related
- Drug related
- Co-occurring Problems (both mental health and substance abuse)
- Other Addictions (e.g., gambling, pornography)
The second planning consideration is identifying the population you will serve.
- Men only (over age 19)
- Women only (over age 19)
- Children only (school age)
- Transition age youth only (ages 17-24)
- Coed Adult Men and Women
- Women and children
- Families
- Elders only
The third planning consideration is the specific type of supportive service being offered. The matrix below can help the organization decide which service its best with the mission of the organization and the resources available to deliver the service.
Support Service |
Level of Organizational Infrastructure Needed* |
Facilities or Equipment Needed |
Relative Cost of |
| Housing | Medium | House, Apartments, or similar facility | High costs may be associated with facilities and insurance |
| Transportation | Low | Van or Cars of volunteers | Could be high if van or bus is purchased, costs may be low if volunteers offer their own |
| Employment | Low | May not require facilities | Can be low cost if volunteers are used; cost may be high if paid supportive employment is chosen as avenue of service |
| Education | Low | May not require facilities | Similar to Employment - if volunteers are used cost is low; Costs may increase when service is self contained like a computer lab |
| Independent Living Skills | Low | May not require facilities | Start up costs typically involve training of volunteers or staff to assist within the community setting |
| Respite | Medium | Facility or home | Start up costs include training of volunteers or staff; may require facility costs if that model is chosen |
| Mentoring | Low | No facility is required | Costs are low and may only involve those associated with training and organization of mentors |
| Support Groups | Low | A place to meet | Low cost or no cost |
| Social/Recreational | Low |
No facility is required | Low cost or no cost |
| Care Management or Coordination | High | No facility is required | Cost is associated with training and professionalization of service. The use of volunteers may lessen cost, but sophistication of volunteers is required. This is often a service that uses paid staff |
* This includes sophistication in formal organizational structures like accounting, personnel management, technology, etc. High levels are associated with organizations that have policies and procedures in place, paid staff dedicated to running the organization and formal status as a non-profit or for profit organization. Medium levels include capabilities for tracking funds and at least part time paid staff. Low levels are associated with groups that may depend mostly on volunteers, have rudimentary bookkeeping capabilities, or only a few staff in place.