Milestones announced for new mental health, addiction crisis center
ADAMH selects operator, confirms Harmon Avenue site
Update - The ADAMH Board of Trustees approved the selection of RI International as the crisis center on-site service provider on Aug. 24, 2021.
The development of the Franklin County Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Center has reached two important milestones with the selection of an operator and confirmation of the Harmon Avenue site location, bringing the community closer to the vision of a centralized destination to serve as the cornerstone of care for adults with mental health and addiction crisis needs.
Led by the Alcohol Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County (ADAMH), the crisis center is a community-wide project and a community-wide investment to address the growing need for mental health and addiction crisis services. The center will offer a no-wrong-door philosophy to ensure that anyone who arrives at the center receives or gets connected to services.
RI International submitted the highest-ranked proposal for Operator of On-site Services for the new crisis center, following a full and thorough evaluation process involving diverse perspectives including ADAMH staff and trustees, community partners, and individuals with lived experiences.
“We selected RI International’s proposal in part due to their proven track record with the required scope of work, including their demonstrated ability to deliver quality care in a financially sustainable model,” said ADAMH CEO Erika Clark Jones. “We are confident in RI International’s ability to partner with our community as we collectively move Franklin County to the next level operating an innovative crisis center as part of our continuum of crisis care,” she said.
“We are committed to continuing to work with local partners including Netcare Access, to strengthen the full continuum of crisis care in Franklin County including call center infrastructure and expanded community-based mobile response options,” Clark Jones added.
Pending ADAMH Board of Trustees approval, the initial contract with RI International will be for planning and consultancy leading up to the operations of the crisis center when it opens in 2024. If they meet the performance benchmarks in the initial contract, including requirements for operational readiness, RI International will serve as the on-site service provider for the center.
“RI International is honored to support the ADAMH Board of Franklin County in both the conceptualization and delivery of the highest quality crisis care. We look forward to partnering with the Franklin County community on this innovative program that offers immediate access to care for anyone in need,” said David Covington LPC, President and CEO, RI International.
In addition, a 3.046-acre parcel of land owned by ADAMH, located south of Harmon Avenue, east of South Souder Avenue, and north of Buchanan Drive, has been confirmed as the crisis center’s location. A site study determined that the parcel was viable for the crisis center.
Groundbreaking for the new crisis center is planned for 2022. The project has received private and public sector support, including capital investments from the state, county and city and the adult hospital systems in Franklin County.
About ADAMH
The Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County, also known as ADAMH, offers life-changing possibilities to individuals and families living with mental health or addiction issues. ADAMH, a levy-funded county agency, partners with more than 30 nonprofit agencies located in neighborhoods throughout the county to provide accessible and affordable behavioral health services.
About RI International
RI International, headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., is a worldwide leader in mental health and substance use crisis service design and delivery. With contracts in 10 states, their team delivers high-quality, no-wrong-door care that embraces a peer first/peer last philosophy when working with individuals in mental health and/or substance use crisis. RI International has more than 30 years delivering these services and implements innovative, value-based, alternative payment models for crisis care in multiple communities.