Baton Rouge, La (April 4, 2022) — THE BRIDGE CENTER FOR HOPE, Louisiana’s first crisis receiving center, recently celebrated its first anniversary of providing essential health services to East Baton Rouge Parish residents experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.
The Bridge Center opened its 26,000-square-foot facility just over a year ago in February 2021, providing an alternative to the parish prison or local emergency rooms for individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Bridge Center has a “no wrong door policy,” adopted by RI International, the facility’s service provider, that allows people to access the facility no matter what they are going through or what time of day it is.
“The original idea for this facility was formed in 2016 to fill the void of quality care for individuals in crisis,” stated Executive Director Charlotte Claiborne. “Our first year of service has shown how much impact a center dedicated to providing help to those experiencing mental health or substance use crisis in our community can have.”
The center includes a 23-hour observation unit that provides stabilization services, a short-term psychiatric unit that provides services to individuals who require a little more intensive care, a medical detoxification unit, a mobile response team that provides crisis intervention and stabilization services in the community, a centered-based respite unit, and a care management team to aid in the continuity of care.
The Bridge Center served 2,286 and admitted 2,141 individuals over the course of its first eleven months. Fifty-one percent received treatment for substance use or a co-occurring disorder, and 49% received treatment for mental health disorders. Of those, the total number of individuals entering the facility on their own was 1,255 (59%), and the total number of first responder escorts was 888 (41%). Just 14% of those served were readmitted within 30 days after receiving services at the facility. For both January and February of this year, the center had 396 presentations and 389 admits, 277 of which were direct entry and 112 of which were first responder escorts.
The Bridge Center accepts all forms of insurance and provides services to both insured individuals and those who are uninsured or underinsured 18 years and older. Because the center does not turn anyone away, out-of-parish resident costs are covered by RI International.
“We want to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use by letting people know that our services are available,” stated Claiborne. “Our services are not defined by demographics such as economic status, gender or race. We serve anyone 18 years and older experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis in our community.”
The Bridge Center for Hope facility is located at 3455 Florida Blvd, across from the Baton Rouge General Mid City campus. For more information and to read the Bridge Center for Hope’s full 2021 annual report, please visit brbridge.org/reports.
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About The Bridge Center for Hope
The Bridge Center for Hope, an independent nonprofit, was formed to help East Baton Rouge Parish residents experiencing a mental health crisis and/or substance use challenge and ensure they receive quality care and attention. The Bridge Center for Hope’s mission is to provide pathways to treatment for people experiencing behavioral health issues and to link providers to create an integrated continuum of care from prevention to rehabilitation. For more information, visit brbridge.org.
About RI International
RI, founders of the Living Room model in 2002, deliver no-wrong-door crisis facility-based services across the country with rapid growth targeted. RI’s Campus of Connection model includes a strong peer workforce and surrounds the individual with support on their journey towards recovery. To learn more, visit riinternational.com.
Agency contact:
Ginny Engholm
For Good Content
225-329-6408
ginny@forgoodcontent.com
The Bridge Center for Hope contact:
info@brbridge.org