What Community Support Team is
Community Support Team (CST) is a Medicaid-billable service designed for adults with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. It fills the gap between traditional outpatient therapy and higher levels of care like inpatient or residential treatment.
CST is delivered primarily in the community — in the client's home, neighborhood, workplace, or wherever support is most needed — by a team working in coordination rather than a single provider.
Who CST is for
CST is appropriate for adults with:
- A qualifying SPMI or co-occurring diagnosis
- Functional impairments that limit their ability to live independently or maintain stable relationships, housing, or employment
- A pattern of high-acuity service use (ER visits, crisis services, hospitalizations) that could be prevented with intensive community support
- The ability and willingness to engage with a treatment team and live in a community setting
What the CST team does
- Assessment and planning: thorough clinical assessment and development of a Person-Centered Plan with concrete, individualized goals.
- Symptom management: helping clients recognize early warning signs and apply coping strategies to reduce crisis escalation.
- Crisis response and prevention: developing and practicing a crisis plan; responding rapidly when needed.
- Coordination of care: working closely with psychiatry, primary care, substance use treatment, and other providers.
- Skill building: independent living, communication, and problem-solving skills practiced where they'll be used.
- Family and natural support engagement: strengthening the people and relationships around the client.
- Linkage to resources: housing, benefits, employment, medical care, recovery supports, and community services.
Who delivers CST
CST is delivered by a team including a Team Leader (Licensed Clinician), Qualified Professionals, Peer Support Specialists, and paraprofessionals. The team meets regularly to coordinate care, and each client has access to the full team's expertise — not just one provider.
How to access CST
CST can be accessed through referral from an LME-MCO care coordinator, hospital discharge planner, primary care provider, or other behavioral health provider. Self-referral and family referral are also welcome. Our intake team will coordinate the eligibility review, authorization, and clinical assessment.