Hancock County, Indiana, has officially opened the Green Family Foundation Behavioral Health Services building, a new facility designed to consolidate and enhance access to mental health care and substance misuse programs. The center aims to improve collaboration among services and provide vital resources to families in the community, especially as mental health needs continue to rise.
Integrated Services Under One Roof
Located at 156 Muskegon Drive in Greenfield, the facility brings together various counseling and psychiatric services, a Connection Center, and a Mobile Response Team, all previously scattered across different locations. Amanda Everidge, the executive director of behavioral health services at Hancock Health, emphasized the significance of this integration: “We are in the Green Family Foundation Behavioral Health Services building. It’s very, very special.”
The center offers a range of services, including outpatient mental health care, substance misuse programming, and crisis response services. Everidge stated that this setup will facilitate better collaboration among teams, making it easier for individuals to access the help they need. “Our Connection Center has support navigators and peer recovery specialists,” she added.
A Community-Centric Approach
Local law enforcement officials are optimistic about the center’s potential impact on reducing the number of individuals incarcerated due to mental health issues. Capt. Bridget Foy, jail commander for the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, noted, “It’s just one phone call as opposed to trying to research how can, who in this community.” She expressed hope that the new facility will serve as a valuable tool for law enforcement, allowing them to connect individuals in need with appropriate resources.
Longtime pediatrician Dr. PJ Halter highlighted another benefit of the new center: families will no longer have to travel to Indianapolis for mental health care for their children. “The increase in mental health concerns has risen tremendously over the last decade,” Dr. Halter remarked. “To have something like this in the community really brings it closer to home.”
Everidge anticipates that the new center will allow Hancock Health to better meet the evolving needs of the community. “It’s going to allow us to grow both in our services, treatment we are able to provide, and staffing to meet those needs,” she said.
The facility was made possible through a combination of county support and a $4.5 million Mental Health Campaign and Substance Use Treatment Campaign led by the Hancock Health Foundation, with significant contributions from the Green Family Foundation. The project reflects a commitment to addressing mental health challenges locally and ensuring that essential services are accessible to all residents.
