Munson Healthcare, Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority (NLCMHA) and a collaborative of regional partners will be unveiling further details for a new Mental Wellness Center to Grand Traverse County commissioners today at the County Board of Commissioners meeting. Additionally, Munson Healthcare will become the fiduciary or accountable authority for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from Grand Traverse County.
The Grand Traverse Mental Wellness Center, funded in part with a $5 million dollar allocation of ARPA funds from the county will bring mental health, substance use disorder and crisis services under a single roof. This coordinated approach represents best practices in caring for children, families, seniors, and citizens of all ages, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. Munson Healthcare will serve as the fiduciary moving forward and services will be provided by both Munson and Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority.
“Munson Healthcare is pleased to be making this commitment with our community partners to expand services for our friends, families and neighbors,” said Laura Glenn, Munson Healthcare Chief Operating Officer. “This is another big step toward expanding access in our communities for more mental health tools that we know we need.”
Over the last two years, a Collaborative from Munson Healthcare, NLCMHA, the Northern Michigan Regional Entity, Northwest Michigan Community Health Innovation Region (CHIR), Grand Traverse County and United Way of Northwest Michigan have been at work to expand behavioral health crisis services in the region.
The Center will be located on Munson Medical Center’s (MMC) campus in the building that currently houses outpatient behavioral health services (410 Brook Street). There will be services provided in the building by both Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority (NLCMHA) and MMC with a goal to share staffing resources wherever possible. It will be implemented in 3 phases.
Phase 1- Bringing existing access and crisis services under one roof (NLMHCA centralized access services, Welcoming Center, Crisis Hotline, Mobile Crisis Services, intervention services) and adding outpatient therapy, peer support services and care coordination with 24 x 7 access. Space for partner community organizations may be provided to promote easier access to needed resources/supports and facilitate care coordination.
Phase 2 – The addition of nursing and psychiatric assessments to enhance the services offered in Phase 1. This will be done in a manner that applies best practice models to our unique environment.
Phase 3 – Incorporation of Crisis Residential (CRU) beds for youth and adults.
With approval of the project scope and budget today, the Collaborative is ready to move forward with construction to support Phases 1 & 2 beginning in January 2024 and a projected opening for some services by the end of 2024.
In addition to the $5 million in ARPA funding from Grand Traverse County, Munson Healthcare secured $5 million in state funding to expand pediatric services both at the Center and within the Munson Healthcare system. Northern Lakes received a $1.8 million-dollar federal appropriation to support their Adult Crisis Residential Unit planned for Phase 3 and an additional $3 million dollar state appropriation for Adult Crisis Stabilization and Youth Crisis Stabilization units. Northern Lakes is also in the process of hiring a Center Director, a critical role in the Center’s operations.
“We look forward to the partnership with Munson Medical Center and know that the services provided will make a huge impact in our community,” said Brian Martines, Interim CEO of NLCMHA.
“This project is true product of strong community collaboration including input from stakeholders and community members and as a result will provide an effective behavioral health crisis response, reducing reliance on the public safety net and emergency department care, and better support and stabilize vulnerable community members,” said Seth Johnson, Co-Chair of the Community Advisory Group & CEO/President of United Way of Northwest Michigan.