El Centro, California - Imperial County Behavioral Health Services is partnering with Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health System to bring Jackson House, a short–term acute residential mental health and addictive disease treatment facility, to El Centro. This will add much needed behavioral healthcare beds to the community.
With the support of “Prop 63” the Mental Health Services Act, Imperial County Behavioral Health has been seeking innovative solutions to expand behavioral health service within the county. By identifying the specific level of care that best serves the largest need within the community, through public + private partnerships the county can “cast a larger net” with available funds to treat mental illness and substance use disorder.
Andrea Kuhlen, Director of Imperial County Behavioral Services says, “Imperial County faces a continual challenge of helping those who are struggling with mental illness. Behavioral Health Services is excited to be working with Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health System to develop a Crisis Residential Treatment Center in Imperial County.”
Ms. Kuhlen explains the facility is a “voluntary, short-term 15-bed recovery based program where residents can practice real-world recovery in a home-like setting by performing daily household activities along with learning basic living and social/interpersonal skills necessary to successfully transition back into the community. This new facility will allow individuals experiencing a crisis to be served and supported in their community which is more desirable for the individual and their family.”
“We understand that early intervention, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and substance use disorders is important to recovery and long term success of treatment. Currently, some residents of Imperial County in need of mental health or addiction treatment present at the hospital emergency departments, which are not only more expensive, but are also unable to provide on-going care. In many cases those experiencing early episodes can avoid psychiatric hospitalization and receive more personalized treatment in a short-term residential behavioral health facility,” said Patrick Zeimer, President and Chief Development Officer, Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health System. “We are very excited that through this partnership with Imperial County Behavioral Health, we are adding a new facility in the community for the benefit of Imperial County residents. This will allow greater family involvement in treatment, which improves outcomes.”
Slated to open its doors September 1, 2019, Jackson House El Centro will provide treatment that will serve as an alternative to or continuation of inpatient psychiatric hospitalization in an environment that is more home-like and recovery oriented.
Zeimer explains, “Typically, psychiatric hospitalization concentrates on addressing the acute episode only, at Jackson House El Centro the focus will be on not only treating the acute episode, but also on stabilization and long term recovery. We help clients by providing them the tools to understand and manage their illness, which enables them to live the quality of life that they desire. We are looking forward to bringing these much needed services to the residents of Imperial County.”
The contemporary design of this newly constructed 6448 square foot, 15 bed, 24 hour crisis residential treatment facility will offer semi-private rooms, beautifully appointed indoor and outdoor spaces, large group rooms, and computer lab space, as well as private meeting rooms for individual client consultations.”
“Over the last several years, Imperial County has made it a priority to provide quality, innovative behavioral health treatment solutions to the community. As we considered opportunities for expanding this level of care across southern California, we were humbled and excited to collaborate with a public partner like Imperial County Behavioral Health that has shown a tremendous commitment to seeking innovative solutions to the complex problems that exist in behavioral health,” said Zafar Azimov, Board Member, Alvarado Parkway Institute Behavioral Health System. Jackson House El Centro is the first of several planned short-term residential treatment facilities that will utilize the successful model Jackson House started in La Mesa, California. Jackson House believes that clients should be treated in the least restrictive setting possible, and thus provides the residential setting as an option to a locked psychiatric hospital environment, when appropriate. Treatment that focuses on identifying, learning and applying the tools needed to manage mental illness and substance use disorders can deliver hope to the residents of Imperial County and their families who struggle with the symptoms of these diseases.
