Poudre Health Services District and the Larimer Center for Mental Health (LCMH) today announced plans to collaborate on the operation of a new community resource center that will make it easier for local residents to find and receive appropriate mental health and substance abuse care.

The center, called Connections, will open this spring in the LCMH offices at 525 W. Oak St. in Fort Collins, providing information, referral and assistance for mental health and substance abuse problems in a convenient and consumer-friendly setting.

It will cater to a wide range of consumers – from people seeking basic information for themselves or a loved one, to individuals who need help dealing with a crisis. Confidential services will be available to help connect people with appropriate – and affordable – treatment for issues ranging from depression to drug or alcohol dependency.

Connections grew from work by the Community-wide Mental Health and Substance Abuse Partnership of Larimer County, a broad coalition of organizations and consumers seeking improvements in local services. A report issued last year by the coalition called for an integrated and comprehensive information and referral system for mental health and substance abuse. Since then, coalition members LCMH and the Health District have sought ways to achieve that goal by combining and enhancing their respective services.

"Connections is the first of what we hope will be numerous improvements to local mental health and substances abuse services resulting from this community-wide partnership," said Carol Plock, executive director of the Health District. "It demonstrates the value of the community coming together to identify and solve problems."

"Connections is truly a pioneering effort to redesign and improve the mental health delivery system," added Randy Ratliff, executive director of the Larimer Center for Mental Health. "I am excited to see this partnership between LCMH and the Health District already achieving results by developing an entirely new system to integrate resources and respond effectively to consumer's needs."

Consumers will be able to access the new center’s services in several ways. Information and referrals will be available by phone during regular business hours, with all calls going directly to a team of five mental health specialists on staff. People also will be able to drop by the center’s old town offices and consult one-on-one with a mental health specialist. A searchable, online database of local mental health resources maintained by the Health District rounds out the resources available from Connections.

Connections will provide information on mental health and substance abuse, make referrals to local therapists and other community resources, and arrange for affordable counseling or treatment for individuals who have low incomes. Staff also will provide some care coordination, assisting consumers with accessing services and later following up with them to see that they actually received the care they needed.

In addition to the mental health specialists, Connections will offer the services of a consumer advocate who can give people support, guidance and a "been there, done that" perspective on seeking help.

With the support of staff therapists from the LCMH, Connections also will be able to handle crisis situations. Crisis intervention will be available on a walk-in basis during regular business hours and around the clock by phone.

Connections is scheduled to be fully staffed and open for walk-in services later this spring. In the meantime, people can call 221-5551 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for therapist referrals and affordable counseling options, or 221-2114 for after-hours crisis assistance. A searchable list of local mental health providers is also currently available online at www.mentalhealthconnections.org.

Poudre Health Services District is a public agency that has been meeting the community’s healthcare needs since 1960. Today, it provides medical, mental health, dental, preventive health and health planning services to residents of northern Larimer County.

The Larimer Center for Mental Health became a private, nonprofit corporation in 1999 after more than four decades as a division of county government. Today, it provides comprehensive public mental health services to Larimer County residents, including Medicaid clients.