A continuing treatment program, which provides comprehensive psychiatric services to the severely and persistently mentally ill. It provides assessment and treatment planning, discharge planning, psychotropic medication education and therapy, supportive case management services, including linking, monitoring and advocacy services, health screening and referral, psychiatric rehabilitation readiness determination and referral, symptom recognition and management training, rehabilitative readiness development and functional skills training, clinical skills support services, recreational activities and has an Arts and Crafts Workshop. Program affiliated with Department of Psychiatry of Harlem Hospital Center.

The Columbia University CSS program was established in 1978 in affiliation with Harlem Hospital's Department of Psychiatry for the explicit purpose of providing comprehensive psychiatric aftercare services to the Seriously and Persistently Mentally Ill in the Harlem community. The Continuing Day Treatment Program is comprised of four units; Continuing Day Treatment, Supportive Case Management, Transportation and On-Site Rehabilitation (Residential) services. The program is state funded through a sub-contractual agreement with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The Program was originally located at 121 West 128th Street and move into the Dempsey complex in 1992.

The program's goals and objectives consistent and congruent with the broad mandates of the CSS division of the State Office of Mental Health, the requirements of Parts 587 & 588 of the Mental Hygiene Law and the conditions specified in the FY 1994 Comprehensive Outpatient Provider Agreement with the NYCDOH&MH. In simple terms, the goals of the program are to restore, develop, and maintain the skills necessary to allow CSS clients (i.e., SPMI) to live, learn and where possible, work in the community. Another goal if the program is to reduce the frequency and duration of readmissions to psychiatric hospitals.

The objectives associated with these goals are to:

. encourage involvement and investment in the program through a structured daily schedule,
. enhance social functioning through advocacy, monitoring and linking to essential entitlement services,
. enhance academic and vocational functioning by facilitating entrance into remedial training activities and programs,
. promote improved physical health through referrals to appropriate medical clinics,
. promote self-sufficiency and competence through the enhancement of various functional skills, including the capacity to use public transportation.

The services provided by CSS are also consistent with the mandates of Parts 578 & 588, the COPS agreement and the aforementioned goals and objectives. They include the following:

. assessment and treatment planning,
. discharge planning,
. psychotropic medication education and therapy,
. supportive case management services, including linking, monitoring and advocacy services,
. health screening and referral
. psychiatric rehabilitation readiness determination and referral,
. symptom recognition and management training,
. rehabilitative readiness development and functional skills training,
. Clinical skills support services
. Recreational activities.