A centralized intake process for referrals to high-intensity mental health services for children and adults who have been diagnosed with a serious mental illness that interferes with their ability to function in the community, home, school, and/or work. The overall goals of the mental health services include fostering independence and improving quality of life. The purpose of SPOA is to manage access to high-intensity mental health services, provide a forum for improved collaboration among community service providers, and identify and promote community-based alternatives to residential treatment and psychiatric hospitalization.