One of Delaware’s largest behavioral health care providers is continuing to partner with USDA to expand its facilities in rural areas.
USDA’s recent $1 million loan to Connections Community Support Programs, Inc. will go towards helping expand its family therapy and primary medical care offices at its Harrington location.
Taylor says they’re trying to deal with addiction from a family perspective, and recognized a need for primary care clinicians onsite to address other health issues that are compounded with clients’ underlying issues of addiction.
“We want to provide more than just detoxification services. We have an intensive outpatient program right next door to the Withdrawal Management Center. So after someone is there from one to seven days they can receive counseling for several weeks at the intensive outpatient program,” he said.
Last year, the USDA provided one of the First State’s largest behavioral healthcare providers Connections Community Support Programs Inc. with an over $5 million loan to assist with the acquisition of the Withdrawal Management Center. Taylor also says the Withdrawal Management Center is multi-faceted.
“We have 12 23-hour assessment lounges where you can stay for 23 hours and you’re assessed to find out what your best level of care should be," Taylor said.
There are 16 inpatient beds on-site where individuals can stay for up to one week, and an intensive outpatient unit that serves as another option to help transition individuals directly into therapy in what Taylor calls a “continuum of care” that Connections aims to achieve.
They’re also working to create a commercial kitchen that will help provide employment opportunities for clients in recovery.
On the horizon is the development of a housing program for individuals after they leave the Withdrawal Management Center.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says providing mental health in rural areas remains one of its top priorities.
“The saddest situation in rural areas is when someone reaches that point where they understand and appreciate the need for reaching out for help and they can’t find a place to go," Vilsack said.
There are only 9 psychiatrists in Kent County and 7 in Sussex county, compared to 73 in New Castle County.
