Programs that provide walk-in, walk-out diagnostic and treatment services for children, adolescents and/or adults who have acute or chronic psychiatric disorders but do not need 24-hour care; and/or provide counseling services for individuals, couples, families and extended family groups who may be experiencing difficulty resolving personal or interpersonal conflicts or making personal adjustments to stressful life situations such as separation, divorce, widowhood, loss of a child, poor health, unemployment, family violence, delinquency or substance abuse.

Community-based outpatient facilities that offer individual, group, conjoint and family counseling, therapy groups, medication and other mental health services for community residents, especially those who are indigent, who have acute or chronic psychiatric disorders or who may be experiencing difficulty resolving personal or interpersonal conflicts or making personal adjustments to stressful life situations such as separation, divorce, loss of a spouse or a child, poor health, unemployment, family violence, delinquency or substance abuse. Included may be city and county-operated and nonprofit facilities.

Programs that coordinate access to outpatient mental health services and/or psychiatric hospitalization and residential treatment facilities in a community by evaluating the nature and severity of an individual's mental health problem, determining which service response would best meet the needs of the patient, doing an eligibility assessment, and providing a referral to (or facilitating placement in) an appropriate program or facility. Mental health triage services may be located in an emergency department, community mental health service, call center or co-located with other specialized mental health services.

Programs that utilize a variety of means to evaluate the mental or emotional status or functioning of people who may be experiencing acute or chronic disturbances. Diagnostic techniques may include observation of the person's behavior, interviews with the individual and significant others, psychological testing as indicated, medical examination, assessment for psychotropic or other medication, and the formulation of an appropriate, ongoing treatment plan which may include voluntary or involuntary hospitalization.

Programs that utilize a variety of means to evaluate and identify the best mode of treatment for individuals who have developmental deficits, learning disabilities, neurological impairments, loss of memory, behavioral problems, personality disorders or adjustment problems. Diagnostic techniques may include observation of the person's behavior, interviews with the individual and significant others, psychological testing as indicated, and neuropsychological assessment in situations where organic involvement such as brain injury is suspected. Ongoing assessment may be provided as a means of evaluating the effectiveness of treatment.

A condition, previously referred to in the U.S. as "dual diagnosis", in which individuals have both a diagnosed mental illness and a substance use disorder involving either drugs or alcohol. Any combination of mental health and substance use disorders qualifies for this diagnosis, e.g., an alcohol use disorder and depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and a heroin use disorder, prescription drug dependence and anxiety. For purposes of treatment, it is recommended that clients receive intensive medical and therapeutic intervention and care for both disorders at the same time, allowing them to manage the symptoms caused by the mental health disorder without resorting to drugs and/or alcohol and worsening their mental health symptoms, or allowing an untreated mental health order to increase the urge to drink or get high.

Individuals or families whose annual income is between 150 and 200% of poverty level for their family size.

Individuals and families who have no fixed, regular and adequate residence, who are residing temporarily with relatives or friends or who live on the street, in emergency or transitional shelters, in a hotel or motel paid for with a shelter voucher, in seriously substandard housing or in an abandoned building, place of business, car or other vehicle, or other public or private place that is not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for people. Some people who are homeless have issues with substance abuse, chronic or severe mental illness, chronic unemployment or underemployment, or other problems that prevent them from obtaining housing.