Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services

Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services (DBH/MRS), provides comprehensive behavioral health and mental retardation services through a provider network. DBH/MRS serves more than 120,000 people each year.

It is comprised of the following components:

  • The Office of Addiction Services
  • The Office of Mental Health
  • Community Behavioral Health
  • Mental Retardation Services

Department overviews with individual contact information are detailed below.

For more information, please visit the website, or contact:

24/7 Hotline: 1-888-545-2600
TTY number:  1-888-436-7482

Emergency Contacts:

Mental Health Delegates: 215-685-6440

Suicide and Crisis Intervention Hotline: 215-686-4420

Mental Retardation Services Emergency Line: 215-829-5709 / 215-685-6440 (after 5PM) 

Office of Addiction Services

The Office of Addiction Services plans, funds, and monitors substance abuse prevention, intervention,  treatment and recovery support services in Philadelphia. As the Single County Authority, OAS provides leadership and coordinates the activities of addiction providers for Philadelphia residents including people who are:

  • Medicaid recipients
  • Uninsured
  • Underinsured

For more information about OAS, call 215-685-5403. 

Office of Mental Health

Philadelphia’s Office of Mental Health provides mental health services for more than 40,000 adults and children requiring medical, social, and educational services. The office provides these services through an extensive network of contacted provider agencies located throughout Philadelphia.

Services include:

  • Emergency and crisis intervention services
  • Rehabilitation programs
  • Individual and group counseling
  • Family support programs
  • Residential programs
  • Consumer-run services

For more information about OMH, call 215-685-5400.

Community Behavioral Health

Community Behavioral Health is a not-for-profit 501c (3) corporation contracted by the City of Philadelphia to provide mental health and substance abuse services for Philadelphia County Medicaid recipients. Today, CBH is responsible for providing behavioral health coverage for the City’s 420,000 Medicaid recipients.

Its primary activities include:

  • Authorizing payment for behavioral health services
  • Requiring provider agencies to deliver effective and medically necessary services
  • Achieving management and operational efficiencies to lower healthcare costs

For more information about CBH, call 1-888-545-2600.

Mental Retardation Services

Mental Retardation Services plans, administers, monitors, and coordinates services for over 12,000 Philadelphia citizens with mental retardation. It's mission is to create, promote, and enhance the supports and services available to individuals with mental retardation. Services will foster choices, meaningful personal relationships, community participation, and dignity and respect as valued citizens.

Support and services include: 

  • Supports Coordination (formerly known as Case Management)
  • Early Intervention Services (birth to 3 years of age)
  • In-home Supports and Respite Services
  • Employment and Adult Day Services
  • Community Living and Lifesharing Services

Activities include:

  • Determining eligibility for individuals seeking services through the mental retardation system
  • Administering services and support for children and families using early intervention programs
  • At-home services, including respite care, therapies, and social and recreational services
  • Supporting people to live in supervised community homes and lifesharing arrangements
  • Employment and day services
  • Monitoring to ensure a focus on service outcomes, quality management, and accountability
  • Collaborating with the education, health, and child welfare system to serve children from birth to 21 years

For more information on MRS, call 215-685-5900.

Related Link: 
Department of Behavioral Health and Mental Retardation Services