Mental Health Resource Center
Press Release
Contact: Robert Sommers, Ph.D.
(904) 743-1883 Extension 7103
September 12, 2019
JACKSONVILLE, FL – Mental Health Resource Center (MHRC) has opened a Comprehensive Services Center (CSC) to provide outpatient behavioral health services to residents of Jacksonville’s Southside and Beaches. The new CSC is located at the MHRC South facility at 11820 Beach Boulevard.
MHRC’s other CSC is located at its North facility (3333 West 20th Street) and primarily serves residents of North and West Jacksonville. The MHRC North CSC opened in February 2017 and since then has served more than 7,000 people.
Both CSCs provide services on a walk-in basis as well as by appointment. The CSCs offer a wide array of outpatient services for adults, including: mental health screening, assessment and therapy; substance abuse screening, assessment and therapy; psychiatric evaluation; medication management; care coordination; and assistance with obtaining benefits, such as Social Security Income, Social Security Disability Income, Medicaid, food stamps and housing.
The MHRC South CSC and the MHRC North CSC offer outpatient services Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The MHRC North CSC is open to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.
The North CSC is located at 3333 West 20th Street, near Edgewood Avenue, and can be contacted at 904-695-9145. The South CSC is located at 11820 Beach Boulevard, near I-295, and can be contacted at 904-642-9100.
MHRC partners with other community agencies to offer comprehensive services in the most accessible, effective manner. For the CSC project, MHRC contracts with Gateway Community Services for the provision of substance abuse and peer recovery services. The Department of Children and Families Automated Community Connection to Economic Self Sufficiency (ACCESS) program also provides on-site help at the CSCs for individuals applying for Food Assistance, Cash or Medicaid.
MHRC received a $161,000 grant from The Partnership for Mental Health, Delores Barr Weaver and Baptist Health to help cover the cost of remodeling the MHRC South facility to accommodate the new CSC. “The whole idea of The Partnership for Mental Health is to expand access to these critical services,” noted Delores Barr Weaver, when the grant was awarded. “By opening the doors for walk-in patients on the Southside, the Mental Health Resource Center will greatly enhance Northeast Florida’s access to care in a timely, responsive manner. Further, this model provides other necessary supports that address barriers to wellness.”
“The North CSC has met a critical need of immediate access to care since opening two years ago,” noted Dr. Terrie Andrews, Baptist Health, Behavioral Health Administrator. “We are delighted to assist the Mental Health Resource Center in geographically expanding services and strengthening the system of mental health care for Northeast Floridians.”
“Studies show that it is often difficult for people to access mental health services, and that long wait times for appointments result in people not following through with getting treatment,” said Dr. Robert Sommers, MHRC CEO. “The CSC removes these barriers by offering services on a walk-in basis, as well as by appointment. By offering walk-in services, the MHRC CSC can serve individuals that same day, resulting in better care and greater client satisfaction.”
The MHRC CSC services, and other MHRC programs in Jacksonville, are funded in part by the City of Jacksonville, and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) through its managing entity LSF Health Systems.
ABOUT MHRC
Founded in Jacksonville in May 1977, Mental Health Resource Center, Inc. (MHRC) is a Florida nonprofit corporation that provides a wide range of mental health and social services to the community. Included in MHRC’s service array are 24-hour emergency services; inpatient psychiatric treatment for children, adolescents and adults; and numerous outpatient services, including psychiatric evaluation, medication management, care coordination, counseling, psychosocial rehabilitation, a therapeutic family program, state hospital liaison services, forensic services, jail-based diversion services, mental health court services, and the Urban Rest Stop for homeless individuals.
MHRC also operates eight Florida Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) programs for adults with severe and persistent mental illness located in Clearwater, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Kissimmee, Rockledge, Tampa, and Winter Haven. The two FACT teams that are located in Jacksonville serve residents of Duval, Clay and Nassau counties.
Since 1989, MHRC’s programs have been fully accredited by The Joint Commission. Inpatient crisis stabilization services are licensed by the State of Florida, Agency for Health Care Administration. MHRC is a certified agency of United Way of Northeast Florida.