The Community Action Team (CAT)

The Community Action Team (CAT) is a self-contained multi-disciplinary clinical team that serves children and their families who reside in Pinellas County.  CAT provides in-home, family-centered services individualized according to the strengths and needs of the child and family. The team and family work together with a goal of supporting and sustaining the youth or young adult in the most appropriate environment.

Services provided and/or coordinated by the team include:

  • Psychiatric (evaluation and medication management)
  • Therapy (individual and family)
  • Case Management
  • Mentoring
  • Crisis intervention and on-call/support are offered 7 days a week from 6:00 pm to 8:00 am
  • Educational system advocacy, coordination and tutoring
  • Legal system advocacy and coordination
  • Parenting skills/behavior modification
  • Family support network development
  • Employment/Vocational services
  • Life Skills Development
  • Respite Services

For More Information Contact:

Patrick McKee, MA, LMHC 727-362-4227

email: pmckee@pemhs.org

Gayle McNeill, MA, LMHC 727-362-4225

email: gmcneill@pemhs.org

Program Description:

The CAT model is an integrated service delivery approach that utilizes a team of individuals (mental health therapist; a psychiatrist; a licensed nurse; a case manager; and a therapeutic mentor) to comprehensively address the needs of the young person and their family.  It is intended to be an effective alternative to out-of-home placement for children with serious behavioral health conditions.  The goals of the CAT program are to:  improve school-related outcomes; decrease out-of-home placements; improve family and youth functioning; decrease substance use and abuse; decrease psychiatric hospitalization; increase health wellness; and transition into age-appropriate services. 

Eligibility:
•    Young people ages 11-21 with a mental health diagnosis or co-occurring substance abuse diagnosis with accompanying characteristics such as:
•    being at risk for out-of-home placement as demonstrated by repeated failures at less intensive levels of care;
•    having two or more hospitalizations or repeated failures; involvement with the Department of Juvenile Justice or multiple episodes involving law enforcement
•    poor academic performance and/or suspensions.
•    Children younger than 11 may be candidates if they meet two or more of the aforementioned characteristics. 

The team is available on nights weekends and holidays.  

Services we offer:
•    Individual and Family Therapy;
•    Case Management services;
•    Nursing services by an LPN;
•    Psychiatric services to include but are not limited to Psychiatric Evaluations and medication management; and 
•    Mentoring Service