Project Grant CE152274

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - PERSONAL ENRICHMENT THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC. 11254 58TH ST. N PINELLAS PARK, FL 33781-2213 HELENA CALHOUN, MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR (PROJECT MANAGER) PHONE: 727.362.4333 FAX: 727.545.6464 EMAIL: HCALHOUN@PEMHS.ORG WEBSITE: HTTPS://PEMHS.ORG/ REQUEST: $2,000,000.00 FOR NEW CSSU AND DIVERSION CENTER THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE NEW PEMHS CHILDREN'S CRISIS STABILIZATION UNIT (CSSU) AND DIVERSION CENTER IS TO PROVIDE THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH A NEW AND MODERN 20-BED CRISIS UNIT AND DIVERSION CENTER AS A DIRECTION FOR NEW AND IMPROVED FACILITIES AND TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE OUR EXISTING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND PROGRAMS. THE NEW CSSU AND DIVERSION CENTER WILL ALSO HOUSE A MODERN EMERGENCY SERVICES INTAKE CENTER FOR ALL CLIENTS. THE GOAL IS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE TREATMENT, AND FOLLOW-UP AND WRAP-AROUND SERVICES. THIS WILL REDUCE THE UTILIZATION OF HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, JAILS, PRISONS, AND HOMELESS PROGRAMS. A NEW 20-BED CHILDREN'S CSSU WILL BE DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT, ALLOW FOR THE SEPARATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND OLDER YOUTHS, PROVIDE ADEQUATE SPACE FOR ASSESSMENT, AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR THERAPEUTIC RECREATION. THE INTENDED RESULT OF THIS NEW AND COMPREHENSIVE BUILDING IS TO PROVIDE A CENTRALIZED RECEIVING FACILITY FOR ALL CLIENTS AND OFFER DIVERSION SERVICES. THE NEW DIVERSION CENTER WILL PROVIDE PINELLAS COUNTY WITH A CENTRALLY LOCATED, 24/7 INTAKE FACILITY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, VOLUNTARY AND INVOLUNTARY INTAKE, ASSESSMENT, AND REFERRAL. THE FACILITY WILL ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF BOTH MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PATIENTS, CHILDREN, AND ADULTS. PEMHS'S CRISIS STABILIZATION UNITS (CSUS) HAVE ALWAYS SERVED AS A SAFE HAVEN FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LIVING WITH SEVERE AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS. CSUS ESSENTIALLY DELIVER THE SAME PSYCHIATRIC CARE AS HOSPITALS AT A SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER COST, AS WELL AS PROVIDE RAPID STABILIZATION AND DISCHARGE PLANNING THAT REDUCES THE LENGTH OF STAY. THE CSU IS AVAILABLE 24 HOURS, 7 DAYS A WEEK, MAINTAINING ACCESS TO CRITICAL INPATIENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE FOR HOSPITALS AND JAILS REFERRALS. THEY ALSO PROVIDE A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE THE NECESSARY, COMPASSIONATE, FACE-TO-FACE TREATMENT AND CARE THAT THEY REQUIRE. IN THE PAST YEARS, PEMHS HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM AGITATION, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND SUBSTANCE USE. THE ACUITY OF PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS IN BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS CONTINUES TO BE EXACERBATED BY THE USE OF ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES. MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS SEEKING SERVICES HAVE CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE INCREASE IN AGITATION, ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION. A VAST MAJORITY OF PEMHS CLIENTS (82%) ARE LOW-MODERATE-INCOME, MANY ARE HOMELESS OR LIVE IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITIES. PEMHS SERVES PRIMARILY INDIGENT POPULATIONS. THE ADDITION OF THE DIVERSION CENTER TO THE NEW CSSU WILL PROVIDE SPACE FOR ASSESSMENTS FOR THE CHILDREN AND TO MEET WITH FAMILIES TO DETERMINE IF ADMISSION CAN BE AVOIDED. IT IS ALSO A SPACE WHERE FAMILIES CAN BE ASSESSED FOR IN-HOME SERVICES THAT CAN BE PROVIDED BY PEMHS COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAMS OR BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS. FINALLY, THAT SPACE IS ALSO NEEDED FOR FAMILIES TO MEET AND DISCUSS DISCHARGE PLANNING FOR THOSE CHILDREN THAT WERE ADMITTED TO THE CSU. PEMHS WILL COLLABORATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO FACILITATE CARE COORDINATION FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES WILL BE BASED ON TREATMENT GOALS. THESE SERVICES WILL BE TIMELY AND WILL ENSURE THAT CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WILL RECEIVE THE SUPPORT THEY NEED. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE CONTINUITY OF CARE, EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES, AND TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR CONTINUED TREATMENT. THIS, IN TURN, WILL ASSIST WITH STRENGTHENING THE STABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF FAMILIES IN PINELLAS COUNTY AND THUS OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.