ABOUT TELECARE CORPORATION – TELECARE CHANGES
Founded in 1965, Telecare is a family- and employee-owned company that provides treatment for individuals struggling with mental illness. Its CHANGES program, which is located in Oakland, Calif., offers outpatient programming for adults who have been diagnosed with mental illness and are also struggling with addiction. The facility runs its services Monday through Friday during normal business hours, and crisis services are available to clients 24 hours a day. Detox services are not offered on-site.
TREATMENT & ASSESSMENT
All client referrals are coordinated through the ACCESS Social Services Agency in Alameda County. In order to be eligible for treatment, clients must have been diagnosed with co-occurring disorders, reside in Alameda County, and be between the ages of 18 and 62.
CHANGES believes all individuals have the power to be rehabilitated and make life choices that are healthy and fulfilling, despite their history and current mental health status. The facility utilizes a holistic, clinical approach called the Recovery-Centered Clinical System (RCCS), which is designed to provide an environment that gives clients increased control, responsibility, and choices. The program’s goal is to empower participants to improve their lives, build and repair relationships, and reintegrate into the community.
Most clients remain enrolled in the CHANGES program for between nine and 18 months. During this time, they receive both individual and group counseling, symptom management training, education, life skills training, medication management, nutritional counseling, and ongoing assessments and evaluations. Family members are encouraged to serve as active participants in their loved one’s treatment.
STAFF CREDENTIALS
According to the facility’s website, Telecare’s treatment team includes physicians, physician assistants, psychologists, and nurse practitioners, as well as other healthcare professionals.
WHAT ALUMNI SAY
The two alumni surveyed by Best-rehabs.com at the time of this writing gave CHANGES mixed reviews. Both characterized programming as mediocre but somewhat helpful. “Treatment options are limited. Decent way of trying to live independently but transition is a little slow,” one alum told Best-rehabs.com.
The other survey respondent noted that they would recommend the facility to others and consider re-entry if necessary. “I wanted to get out. I only had to be there three days but could have used more time…. Returned three times in four months,” they told Best-rehabs.com. However, they described the building as “kind of dumpy” and the program itself as “OK.”
WHAT STAFF SAY
While Best-rehabs.com has not yet received any reviews from Telecare’s staff, two employees had provided feedback to Indeed at the time of this writing.[1] Both gave their employer four out of five stars and noted that they enjoyed working with clients. “The most valuable thing that I have learned from this job is to not be too far ahead of the clients goals. It is a partnership vs just case management. The management style and culture is transparent and client centered, we try to keep an environment where people are welcomed and valued,” one reviewer wrote.
FINANCING
According to the center’s HealthGrove profile, CHANGES accepts Medicaid, military insurance, and Access to Recovery vouchers. Sliding scale fees are offered to clients who qualify.
[1] [Link removed]