Wednesday, January 15, 2025
1/15/2025
Located in the City of Milwaukee where 93% of Psychiatric Crisis Services Emergency Room users live in a zip code adjacent to approximately 70% of existing patients, the Milwaukee Mental Health Emergency Center (MHEC) construction project will provide 24/7/365 crisis mental health assessment, stabilization, treatment, and transition care management for children, adolescents, and adults in a centrally located, community-based location. The new Mental Health Emergency Center (MHEC) was developed as a joint venture between the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division (BHD) and four of the area’s health systems: Advocate Aurora Health, Ascension Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin and Froedtert Health. Approximately 12,000 square feet of total square footage will be created by construction activities. The building will provide six inpatient beds, observation areas for both adults and adolescents, staff support areas, dayroom/family room waiting area, voluntary screening area, warming kitchen, records rooms, patient services, provider offices, pharmacy, laundry, a multipurpose room, restrooms, healthcare support function areas, telehealth rooms, conference rooms, communications, and mechanical and electrical spaces. The facility is expected to serve 10,000 to 12,000 individuals annually at high acuity. The MHEC will provide a therapeutic environment for both voluntary and involuntary patients, with separate entrances for patients entering in police custody, and a family friendly treatment area for youth. The anticipated length of stay for emergency care is 4 to 23 hours, with the goal for all patients to receive timely treatment and stabilization to the appropriate level of care. The MHEC will screen individuals for inpatient admissions and complete the Treatment Director’s Supplement as required under WI Chapter 51 for those who have been found to be a danger to self or others. The facility will also provide care coordination and navigation service s to ensure timely connections to community-based care including Crisis Stabilization Houses, Crisis Resource Centers, outpatient services, medications, housing, food and other social supports. The facility will provide immediate access to specialized psychiatric care for those who need it most, potentially reducing law enforcement involvement and unnecessary hospitalizations for this population. A stepped-down level of mental health crisis care for post-discharge referrals from the MHEC and other mental health crisis community-based care providers, the New Horizons Crisis Stabilization House (CSH) Alteration/Renovation project will modernize an existing 2-story building on an existing site. The interior of the building will be renovated in order to repurpose the building from its current use to a residential treatment facility for persons experiencing a temporary crisis due to mental health disorders. The facility will be licensed as a Community Based Residential Facility under Wisconsin DHS 83. Approximately 17,518 square feet of total improved square footage will be impacted by renovation activities. The building will provide sleeping rooms, a waiting area, records rooms, patient services, counselor offices, a special purpose room, restrooms, telehealth support function areas, communications, and mechanical spaces. New Horizons CSH will serve as a critical part of the continuum of care for psychiatric crisis services in Milwaukee County. The $2,539,000 of HRSA funding requested in this application will help Milwaukee County maintain the continuum of crisis services at the level needed to meet increased demand. The MHEC and New Horizons CSH projects will be preventative interventions assisting individuals to begin their recovery journey while addressing many of the social determinants of need.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).