The Bridge Center for Hope provides critical help to ALL individuals facing a mental health crisis in the East Baton Rouge Parish community. We know that a mental health or substance use crisis can happen to anybody, which is why there are no barriers to accessing services at the Bridge Center. Our “no wrong door” approach means that you will receive the care you need, no matter how you arrive at our facility.

All individuals age 18 and older can receive services at the Bridge Center, regardless of their ability to pay. No one is turned away.

The Bridge Center facility offers a range of crisis stabilization and crisis care services. The center does not provide long-term care for guests. The Bridge Center for Hope is a short-term care facility consisting of four units and five programs:

At the Bridge Center for Hope, no one is turned away, regardless of income, ability to pay or insurance coverage. The facility accepts all forms of insurance. We also admit EBR residents who do not have insurance coverage.

The 2018 tax passage will provide services for East Baton Rouge Parish residents people who are uninsured or can’t afford care. RI International, the facility service provider, is contracted with all Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to cover all Medicaid recipients in addition to the contract with The Bridge Center for Hope to cover uninsured individuals of East Baton Rouge Parish in need of services.

RI International, the service provider chosen by the Bridge Center Board of Directors, is an international non-profit behavioral health organization that provides a range of mental health, substance use, and crisis services since 1990 throughout the United States and abroad. RI was chosen to operate The Bridge Center for Hope facility.

The Bridge Center for Hope utilizes RI’s Campus of Connection model and its Crisis Now model. The Campus of Connection model includes a strong peer workforce and surrounds the individual with support on their journey towards recovery. The Crisis Now model is an evidence-based, nationally endorsed approach to crisis care that prevents suicides, provides immediate help for those in distress, reduces the cost of care, and reduces the strain on emergency rooms, prisons and law enforcement.

In 2019, The Bridge Center for Hope Board of Directors selected RI International through a solicitation of proposal process to operate the facility. RI International and its employees provide all services for The Bridge Center for Hope. Executive Director Charlotte Claiborne and The Bridge Center for Hope Board of Directors provide oversight of the contract between The Bridge Center for Hope and RI International.

A mental health or substance use crisis occurs when a person’s behavior changes in such a way that it could put themselves or others at risk of hurting themselves or being unable to function normally in daily life.

A crisis-receiving facility provides crisis stabilization services to people in need of urgent care for mental health issues or substance use disorders, or both. Similar to an emergency room, a facility-based, walk-in crisis center provides short-term, behavioral health crisis intervention, offering a community-based, voluntary home-like environment as an alternative to more restrictive settings. In addition, crisis stabilization services provide an alternative to costly, overcrowded emergency rooms.

This is an individual treatment plan based on medical necessity. The majority of individuals are stabilized within the first 23-hours. Individuals who require more extended stabilization may stay one to five days.

Co-occurring disorders may include any combination of two or more substance use disorders and mental or behavioral health conditions.

Because mental health and substance use disorders are co-occurring, people with mental health issues are more likely to experience a substance use disorder than those not affected by a mental illness. 

In fact, about a third of all people experiencing mental illnesses and about half of people living with severe mental illnesses also experience substance abuse. But integrating both screening and treatment for mental and substance use disorders can lead to a better quality of care and health outcomes for those living with co-occurring disorders. Treating both conditions at the same time helps facilitate recovery.

Short answer, yes. However, the guest (individual) receiving services must give written authorization to the facility staff before any information is provided. This may include but is not limited to admission status, treatment, and discharge planning.

However, the guest receiving services must give written authorization to the facility staff if it applies to the individualized treatment plan.

Guests brought in by Order of Protective Custody (OPC) are assessed by nurses, licensed mental health professionals, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychiatrists to determine if the individual meets one of the three criteria: a danger to self, others, or gravely ill. If one of the three criteria applies, the treating physician issues a physician emergency certificate, and the guest remains involuntary committed.

When a guest enters the facility on an Order of Protective Custody (OPC), the facility staff will contact the affiant (someone who files an affidavit) for collateral information to aid in the treatment process.

Before discharge, all guests are scheduled for an outpatient provider appointment, a physical health appointment, and given additional resource information.

Family members and natural supports* are encouraged to be a part of the guest treatment process when applicable to the guest treatment plan and with the guest's written consent.

*Natural Supports is defined as personal associations and relationships typically developed in the community that enhance the quality and security of life for people, including, but not limited to, family and friends.

Discharge against medical advice (AMA), in which a patient chooses to leave the facility before the treating physician recommends discharge.

Upon the discharge planning process, the Bridge Center will assist in securing temporary housing [residential treatment facility, group homes, shelters].

The Bridge Center has many community resources. Guests are discharged to an appropriate level of care throughout the community.

Guests are transferred to another facility if they have urgent or emergent medical complications.

Guest treated for substance use issues typically stay three to five days and follow a medical detoxification protocol.

No, the Bridge Center is a non-smokingfacility/campus. However, guests are given nicotine patches to ward off cravings.

Formal voluntary admissions mean the admission of a person suffering from mental illness or substance-related or addictive disorder desiring admission to a treatment facility for diagnosis or treatment of such condition, which may be formally admitted upon his/her written request.

At any point during the treatment process, an individual who was initially admitted to the facility on an Order of Protective Custody (OPC) can be changed to an FVA.