Nearly 100 organizers and residents celebrated the grand opening Tuesday of a long-awaited psychological well being clinic on Chicago’s West Side.
The Encompassing Center, 3019 W. Harrison St., is a 5,000-square-foot facility that includes convention rooms in addition to a kids’s space stuffed with toys and remedy rooms. The facility will completely serve residents of East and West Garfield Park, North Lawndale and the Near West Side.
The heart was the results of a four-year effort led by The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Coalition to Save Our Mental Health Centers, and the North Lawndale Community Action Team.
“We are open to anyone who has any mental health or substance use needs and want to come in for services,” stated Laura Kuever, affiliate vp of kid, youth and household companies with Catholic Charities. “We are offering free services, but our only requirement is you have to be a resident of these four communities.”
Mental well being professionals will present particular person and household remedy, substance abuse remedy and current trauma-focused neighborhood academic companies, Kuever stated. The Encompassing Center is anticipated to see a minimum of 400 sufferers throughout the first yr.
“Mental health has been a problem for a long time, but we seemed to have handled it a lot better in the past,” stated Jacquelyn Ingram, a member of the North Lawndale Community Action Team. “Four communities got together under one voice and said we can all do this together and we did it.”
Ingram stated they’re now working to convey a community-led psychological well being clinic that may serve the Avondale and Hermosa neighborhoods.
Madalynn Crenshaw, 57, of the Near West Side, stated she hopes the clinic’s opening can change the stigma round in search of psychological well being remedy in her neighborhood.
“Jails are filled with people who need treatment for mental health issues and that’s why this place opening is so important,” Crenshaw stated. “We need these centers in order to reduce crime, help with our homeless population and there aren’t any other treatment centers near us.”
Crenshaw stated an in depth buddy has needed to cope with psychological well being issues with out gaining access to remedy.
“She was this amazing person, and she still is, but she’s had to battle with drug abuse and homelessness herself,” Crenshaw stated. “I just wish she had a place like this so she didn’t have to seemingly fight it alone.”
In 2012, public psychological well being clinics throughout the metropolis limits had been lowered from 12 to 6. Only 5 stay publicly operated right this moment.
Earlier this yr a City Council committee permitted the Public Mental Health Clinic Service Expansion Task Force that may look at the re-opening of a few of these clinics.
Those in search of extra details about companies at The Encompassing Center are requested to name (773) 638-5703.
Manny Ramos is a corps member of Report for America, a not-for-profit journalism program that goals to bolster Sun-Times protection of Chicago’s South Side and West Side.