Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending - Construction - Nicasa, NFP (Nicasa) is a behavioral health services non-profit serving Lake County, IL (for more information visit www.nicasa.org). This Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending (CPF/CDS) Construction and Modernization Project with Equipment project will take place at 31979 N. Fish Lake Road, Round Lake, IL 60073-9517. The Project Director is Bruce N. Johnson, Chief Executive Officer. His contact information is (847)201-7009 (phone), (847)546-6760 (fax), and bjohnson@nicasa.org. Nicasa, NFP is requesting $2,100,000 to add two new additions to the east and west ends of its current headquarters building, repairs to the current sidewalk, curb, parking lot, and driveway, and purchase and installation of moveable equipment. This CPF/CDS project will benefit the broader community in the IL 10th District, as well as residents within IL-011, IL-009, IL-005, and IL-014, by providing an expanded treatment space in the western portion of Lake County where there are few MAR treatment providers, enhancing the amount of services provided by Nicasa so that individuals and families can address all of their needs in one place, providing equal access to technology and care for those looking to engage in telehealth services, providing free access to the internet for individuals and families, creating a safe and communal space in which individuals in recovery can learn healthy behaviors and how to become more self-sufficient, an open space in which to grow Nicasa’s current youth program, and creation of a safe space for LGBTQIAA+ youth who are without a welcoming space to gather in the western portion of Lake County. Specifically, this new construction will directly help youth and adults (12 years and older) in need of culturally competent substance use and mental health care. It will also indirectly help individuals and families of all ages who are connected to those receiving direct care, while also reaching youth and adults through prevention and early intervention services, Family Advocacy Services, and peer recovery support services. Nicasa anticipates this project will serve 63% populations of color (about 40% Latinos, 20% African American, 2% Asian, and 1% Alaskan/Native American), 36% Caucasian, and 1% undisclosed, who are comprised of about 67% males and 33% females. Nicasa will primarily serve those who are uninsured and/or underinsured, as well as those who are covered by Medicaid. In providing high-quality, culturally competent care, Nicasa will be able to provide more services to the Latino population who is primarily Spanish-speaking, are often undocumented and ineligible for insurance coverage, and are a traditionally disadvantaged population in regard to receiving behavioral health care services. The purpose of this project is to expand Nicasa headquarters with two building additions (new construction) that will house additional offices and treatment space, a community meeting space, bathrooms, a kitchen, and technology hub, and repair the parking lot and sidewalk entries and exits in order to provide expanded substance use, mental health, and problem gambling services, as well as add a new medication-assisted recovery (MAR) service to individuals in Lake County, IL who are in need of behavioral health care. The goals of this three-year, CPF/CDS project are to expand Nicasa’s physical space to allow for more substance use and mental health treatment and peer recovery staff, to add a new service to Nicasa’s continuum of care (medication-assisted recovery), to allow for more clients to receive services in one location without having to go to multiple providers, and to create a safe and inviting space for recovery support and youth-specific services (including a welcoming space for the LGBTQIAA+ community). These goals are important to Nicasa as they fulfill service gaps that have been identified throughout IL 10th District over recent years.
