Family Counseling Center, Inc. announces additional
mental health services in Alexander and Pulaski Counties
Family Counseling Center, Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2015 (Vienna, Illinois) – Family Counseling Center, Inc. (FCCI) Executive Director, Sherrie L. Crabb, has announced the recent addition of community mental health services in Alexander and Pulaski counties.
Due to the ongoing State budget impasse and its financial impact, Delta Center, Inc. (DCI) closed its doors on August 15th and ended its contracts with the State for mental health and substance abuse services. The Illinois Division of Mental Health and the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse worked diligently with Delta Center, Inc. and Family Counseling Center, Inc. to ensure that as many services, staff, and sites as possible would remain available to the community.
Family Counseling Center, Inc. has begun leasing 3 of the 8 properties owned by DCI in hopes of providing a seamless transition for clients and stakeholders alike until formal ownership can be sought. Unfortunately, Family Counseling Center, Inc. was only able to employ 35% of Delta Center, Inc.’s current workforce. In regards to the more than 300 clients open to DCI, Family Counseling Center, Inc. created a new division named Delta Center Services Division. It is estimated that around 75% of those clients will continue to be served.
Programs or services that were not transferred to FCCI included a grant for primary and behavioral health integrated care, respite services offered to caregivers of adults or children with disabilities, and a HUD Continuum of Care project which assisted individuals who were homeless.
Though a final decision has not been made, Family Counseling Center, Inc. is currently considering management of Stenger Apartments, a HUD 811 – 10 unit supportive housing complex for persons with disabilities and low income, and Delta Terrace, a IHDA NSP complex that provides 10 units of permanent supportive housing for persons with mental illness, both of which are located in Cairo.
With the budget impasse in its 8th week, Director Crabb warns that “if this budget impasse continues, more employees and the capacity to serve the State’s most vulnerable will be dramatically reduced again in our area. The community mental health and substance abuse system, the system that was put in place to care for the vulnerable indigent populations we serve, is in crisis. People seeking help are starting to end up in inappropriate settings like emergency rooms, hospitals, jails and homelessness because of the elimination of funds to provide the services. We are very concerned, not only for our agency’s survival, but we are very concerned for the individuals who are seeking help and our community that we have been committed to serve. They should not be sacrificed.”
Director Crabb would like to thank AFSCME Local 3513, Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois (CBHA), and Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY) for their continued support of Family Counseling Center, Inc. and its mission of “helping others help themselves”. The public is urged to contact their State Representative, Senator, and the Governor’s office to find solutions in order to restore vital and life-saving community mental health and substance abuse services.
Outpatient Offices Phone Lines
Alexander County: 618-734-2665
Hardin County: 618-285-1020
Johnson County: 618-658-2611
Pope County: 618-683-2461
Website: https://www.fccinconline.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FamilyCounselingCenterIncOnline
About Family Counseling Center, Inc.
Our Mission
Helping Others Help Themselves. At Family Counseling Center, Inc. (FCCI), our mission is to improve the quality of life for persons in need of mental health and substance abuse counseling. We also provide child welfare and developmental disability services. Our primary focus is to reduce the severity of mental health symptoms, promote self awareness for those with intellectual disabilities and provide safe, quality housing for our residential clients.
Our History
Family Counseling Center, Inc. (FCCI) opened its doors in June 1974 to provide mental Behavioral Health (BH) out-patient services to residents of Pope County. Although we began by providing services to Pope County, FCCI was also given responsibility for additional regions: Pope, Hardin and Johnson counties — primarily due to economics and demographics. In 1976, FCCI became incorporated as a Not-for-Profit 501(c)3. In 1989, FCCI expanded our program offerings to include Developmental Services (DS) for both residential homes and developmental training. The Supportive Living division opened its doors in April 2008, to provide quality senior living care. In August of 2015, Family Counseling Center, Inc. expanded its behavioral health footprint again into Alexander and Pulaski Counties.
Subsequently, FCCI has grown to 17 sites: 6 in Johnson County — our largest populated area; 4 sites in Hardin County; 3 sites in Pope County; 3 sites in Alexander County; and 1 site in Pulaski County with services extending beyond those 3 counties to include Massac, Saline and Union.
FCCI provides more than 22 different types of services to over 1500 clients, within 4 separate divisions: Behavioral Health Division (adult/youth outpatient and crisis intervention services, outpatient substance abuse, homeless youth housing, Alzheimer’s screenings, 24-7 residential, psychiatric services, 8-apartments complex); Delta Center Services Division (adult/youth outpatient and crisis intervention services, outpatient substance abuse, 24-7 residential, psychiatric services); Developmental Services Division (crisis, therapy, 24-7 residential, workshop, school transition and home based services); and Supportive Living Division (Autumn Ridge Supportive Living Facility—46 apartment complex for independent senior living). FCCI has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) since 1992.
Our nine member Board of Directors is elected from 3 primary counties: Hardin, Johnson and Pope. An additional 3 members will be added to represent Alexander and Pulaski Counties in the coming months.