Aspire Indiana Health is one of 15 Indiana Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) to receive a state grant for mental health and recovery. The $2 million will be used for the planning of a Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) in Hamilton County.
CSUs, also known as crisis centers or drop-off centers, are community-based, short-term facilities that provide stabilization services for people in need of urgent care related to mental illness, substance use disorder or both. They are designed to help some of the most vulnerable Hoosiers and relieve overburdened emergency response infrastructure including hospital ERs.
Aspire will use the funding to plan the creation of a Hamilton County CSU including examining existing models, meeting with community partners to identify needs, gathering data including identifying the best possible location and partnerships, and researching screening tools.
“There are many different models of CSU, so we will be doing our due diligence by meeting with different agencies across the nation who are already providing this service to find the approach that will best meet the needs of Hamilton County,” said Beth Eiler, Aspire Vice President of Behavioral Health Services.
The grant cycle totals $76 million from the Indiana Family and Social Service Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) and comes from funding from the National Opioid Settlement and the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
“Crisis receiving and stabilization services are critical to providing crisis services,” DMHA Director Jay Chaudhary said. “Currently, too many Hoosiers experiencing a mental health crisis end up in emergency departments or county jails. These grants will help bridge gaps and offer a therapeutic and compassionate alternative pathway for individuals and communities in crisis.”
About Aspire
Aspire Indiana Health is a fully integrated nonprofit health system serving central Indiana that addresses behavioral health, primary medical care, substance use disorders, infectious diseases, deaf services, veteran programs, abused/neglected children, and social drivers of health such as housing and employment. Aspire is supported by a strong network of community organizations, state/federal entities and generous benefactors. Those interested in partnering with Aspire in making health and well-being a reality in central Indiana are encouraged to email info@aspireindiana.org. Learn more at AspireIndiana.org.