Valley Oaks Health was recently awarded a multi-year grant by the Indiana Department of Mental Health and Addictions to develop a peer-led, crisis receiving and stabilization unit for people experiencing mental health and substance use related crisis concerns. This much needed service will provide 24/7 access to uniquely trained mental health professionals who have experienced substance use and behavioral health crises. This model will be developed using evidence-based community crisis response models which have been proven highly successful in preventing inappropriate use of ER, psychiatric inpatient units, and law enforcement.
As part of Indiana State’s 988 Suicide prevention initiative, this innovative model will work with community partners to provide an additional component to our regional crisis response system. Crisis receiving and stabilization services function as part of the ‘safe place for help’ pillar in Indiana’s Crisis Response Network. It is an essential part in ensuring that all Hoosiers have a safe place to accept support and stabilize, regardless of clinical condition, in accordance with SAMHSA Best Practices.
This exciting project comes only months after Valley Oaks Health April 2023 effort to improve access to care and reduce waiting lists by implementing a same day access to care model in Tippecanoe and select surrounding counties.
“We’re very excited by this opportunity and thankful for being selected by the State to implement this project. This is a unique opportunity for our community to build something different as an alternative to traditional emergency services for those who experience a behavioral health crisis” said Dan Arens, CEO of Valley Oaks Health. “We hope this project will help us develop a space for people to engage in services when they need it the most.”
Over the next few months, Valley Oaks Health will expand their efforts with community agencies to design the model and hope to have the Greater Lafayette based program operating by December 2023.
###
Valley Oaks Health is a 501c3 Not for Profit provider of behavioral health services in 9 counties across Northwest Indiana as an Indiana Certified Community Mental Health Center and a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic. Valley Oaks is accredited by the Joint Commission and served nearly 11,000 individuals in 2022, employing nearly 425 people.
