Children and adults in Lompoc should see improved access to quality mental health services with the recent opening of a new children’s Behavioral Health Center.
The dedicated children’s center opens up space in the Santa Barbara County Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services (ADMHS) facility already in Lompoc, expanding the agency’s space and, therefore, its ability to treat both children and adults in the area.
“The space there was just way too cramped,” said Suzanne Grimmesey, the organization’s chief strategy officer. “Everything will be able to spread its wings more.”
The new 5,000-square-foot facility will be able to annually serve an estimated 300 clients between the ages of 6 and 25 from the central county—that’s Lompoc and the surrounding areas.
ADMHS is adding two new adult crisis teams to Lompoc: a mobile crisis team to do mental health assessments in the field and determine whether or not an adult needs to be hospitalized, and a triage team to help prevent hospitalizations and make sure people are well connected to services.
Two grants that the services received earlier this year totaling $11 million are helping get new crisis teams established in all areas of the county, including the aforementioned teams in Lompoc and a brand new triage team in Santa Maria—which Grimmesey said is the furthest along in terms of new hires and getting established in the community.
Through the children’s center, ADMHS will be able to beef up such service as the Transition Age Youth program serving youth from age 16 to 25. The program caters to kids with mental health needs who will likely continue to need services as they become adults, and focuses on what those kids will need in order to successfully live independently.
Grimmesey said the move is connected to a push over the last couple of years to greatly improve access to ADMHS services and the quality of services the agency provides.
ADMHS is holding an open house at the new Children’s Behavioral Health Center on Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to noon, 401 E. Ocean Ave., in Lompoc, across the street from the Jalama Café. There will be a ribbon cutting, refreshments, and facility tours. Fourth District Supervisor Peter Adam will attend.
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2014.