CIC CIC Community Resources & Referral Systems 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Integrated care models in crisis intervention combine mental health services with which other type of care?
- Legal representation only
- Primary care, substance use treatment, and social services in a coordinated system (Correct answer)
- Financial planning services exclusively
- Educational tutoring programs
Correct answer: Primary care, substance use treatment, and social services in a coordinated system
Integrated care addresses the co-occurring physical, psychiatric, and social needs of crisis clients within one coordinated system, improving outcomes.
Question 2: A client in crisis discloses they are uninsured and cannot afford medication. The crisis counselor should first:
- Tell the client to purchase medication online
- Refer the client to patient assistance programs (PAPs) offered by pharmaceutical manufacturers or federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) (Correct answer)
- Suggest the client borrow medication from a friend
- Close the case since treatment is not possible without insurance
Correct answer: Refer the client to patient assistance programs (PAPs) offered by pharmaceutical manufacturers or federally qualified health centers (FQHCs)
PAPs and FQHCs provide free or low-cost medications and services to uninsured individuals, ensuring treatment access regardless of financial status.
Question 3: Which of the following describes the role of a crisis stabilization unit (CSU) in the continuum of care?
- Long-term residential treatment lasting 6–12 months
- A short-term (typically 23-hour to 5-day) community-based alternative to psychiatric hospitalization for crisis stabilization (Correct answer)
- An outpatient therapy office for scheduled appointments only
- A detox facility for acute alcohol withdrawal
Correct answer: A short-term (typically 23-hour to 5-day) community-based alternative to psychiatric hospitalization for crisis stabilization
CSUs provide intensive, short-term stabilization in a less restrictive setting than a hospital, bridging the gap between outpatient and inpatient care.
Question 4: When a crisis counselor refers a client to Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), what should they inform the client?
- These groups require a therapist's formal referral and fees
- These are free, peer-led mutual aid groups — not professional treatment — and work best as a complement to clinical care (Correct answer)
- Attendance is mandatory for maintaining sobriety
- These groups are only available in large metropolitan areas
Correct answer: These are free, peer-led mutual aid groups — not professional treatment — and work best as a complement to clinical care
AA and NA are peer-led 12-step programs that are free and widely available; they supplement but do not replace professional substance use treatment.
Question 5: A culturally competent referral process requires the counselor to consider which of the following?
- Only the client's insurance coverage
- The client's cultural background, language preference, and any historical distrust of specific institutions when selecting resources (Correct answer)
- The counselor's personal familiarity with the resource
- The geographic distance to any provider, regardless of cultural fit
Correct answer: The client's cultural background, language preference, and any historical distrust of specific institutions when selecting resources
Matching clients with culturally and linguistically appropriate services increases engagement and reduces dropout from care.
Question 6: The term 'continuity of care' in crisis intervention means:
- Continuing to see a crisis client indefinitely without referral
- Ensuring smooth transitions and coordination between levels of care so clients do not fall through the gaps (Correct answer)
- Keeping all client records in a single paper file
- Using the same intervention technique throughout treatment
Correct answer: Ensuring smooth transitions and coordination between levels of care so clients do not fall through the gaps
Continuity of care involves proactive coordination — including follow-up contacts and shared records — to prevent gaps in treatment after a crisis episode.
CIC CIC Community Resources & Referral Systems 2
Integrated care models in crisis intervention combine mental health services with which other type of care?