Clinical overview
Purpose of the functional assessment
The functional assessment translates clinical information into a practical picture of how a person currently functions in everyday life. It documents strengths as well as the areas where mental-health symptoms create substantial limitations.
Areas reviewed
The assessment examines required functional domains such as mental-health symptom management, use of services, vocational and educational functioning, social relationships, self-care and independent living, medical and dental care, financial needs, housing and transportation, and other relevant life areas.
Level-of-care assessment
For ARMHS recipients, a level-of-care assessment is completed whenever the functional assessment is completed. The results support decisions about service intensity, safety, referrals, and the most appropriate supports.
How results are used
The findings directly inform the individual treatment plan. Goals and interventions should address identified impairments, use the client's strengths, and be updated when functioning or circumstances change. This is an assessment service—not a pass/fail test and not a promise of eligibility.