Lighthouse Behavioral Wellness Centers and the Choctaw Nation have partnered to address the immediate mental health needs of children in the community.
Aribboncuttingandgrand opening celebration was held last week for the Children’s Urgent Recovery Center in Durant.
TheC-URCoperateswithin the same facility as Lighthouse’s outpatient clinic, located at 2425 W. University Blvd. in Durant.
In Oklahoma, more than 51,000 children ages 6-17 experience serious emotional disturbances, according to Lighthouse,andabout30,000 children with major depression do not receive treatment.
The partnership is funded by a SAMSHA federal grant received by the Choctaw Nation and Lighthouse opened the recovery center in October.
Before the ribbon cutting, Jessica Pfau, Lighthouse CEO, said it was an honor to celebrate the opening of the recovery center which is the only one in southern Oklahoma.
“That means that before this opening, if there was a child in crisis in southern Oklahoma, the only option for them to get care was to go several hours north, either in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman,” Pfau said. “Now, they have the opportunity to stay here.”
She said that since the center’s “soft opening,” 10 children and their families have been served which she said was amazing.
“Out of those 10, eight of the children received the care that they needed right here,” Pfau said. “They were able to be assessed and we were able to care for them here in this community with their family andthensendthemhomeand get them straight into outpatient care. Two of them, as we assessed them, we realized they needed inpatient care, a little higher mental health care than we can provide here in this community, and so they were sent on. But prior to this, all of the kids, whether they needed that higher level of care or not, were sent off.
“So, to be able to keep the children here with their families in their community is a very big deal. The impact is clear, please understand thatandgreatthingsarehappening here in Bryan County thanks to the collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and the collaboration with the Choctaw Nation.”
Pfau said Lighthouse has three core values: Hope, Dedication and Community. “You can see them here on our wonderful displays and underneath Hope, Dedication and Community are the Choctaw words representing those same words,” Pfau said, before reading the words in Choctaw.
She said Lighthouse is proud to partner with the Choctaw Nation and through hope, they anticipate a better tomorrow and that they are investing in people.
“Through dedication, we find a way,” Pfau said. “We don’t give up and through community, we foster relationships and we are stronger together.”
Pfau said she was proud to introduce Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton, who has served the tribe for 37 years, 10 of those as their leader.
Chief Batton said it was an honor to be speaking at the ceremony.
“I’m just so thankful that I have a team and I want to mention them just real quickly,” Batton said. “It starts with the people that are passionate about doing their jobs, passionate about getting service delivery to our people.”
Batton spoke of the tribe’s federal partners and he said the grant is for about $2 million.
“Our federal partners on thatleve,lweappreciatethem very much and then also here at our local level, we’ve got a great council member that’s always willing to step up to work with us to help us appropriate and approve so that we can get these grants, and that’s Mr. James Dry,” Batton said.
Batton said he loves it when they are able partner for the purpose of providing mental health services for the youth.
“So, for me, I don’t mean to go into a whole lot of detail but I lost a brother to suicide when I was 14, he was 18,” Batton said “It’s sad that we have that in southeastern Oklahoma. But the reality is, pressures are growing on people greater and greater each day. These phones seem to cause a lot of trouble for our youth in schools and things like that, cyber bullying.
“All those things that happen, and I’m just so thankful that we have a partner now that we’re able to provide those services to and to be able to have some beds, to have some space available, some counselors available to provide the much-needed services. The nurses, all those things are critical when you’re dealing with those types of situations.
“If you all don’t mind, could you raise your hand if you have somebody that has struggled with mental health, drug abuse or something in your family. I would venture to say it’s touched just about everyone of us and so it’s our obligation and it’s our responsibility and accountability to make sure that we provide ways to make a better way for our children and this is just one of those ways. I just thank the Children’s Urgent Recovery Center here. Thank you, yakoke, so much. For this partnership is what we’re going to do to make the lives of our children better so with that, I’d say yakoke and God bless each and every one of you.”
According to Lighthouse, the grant will significantly offset operational costs, helping fund a full staff of counselors, family support providers, registered nurses and care coordinators.
The crisis center currently accommodates up to three youth and their families simultaneously, providing personalized, family-centered care in a comfortable environment. Each family will have a private, calming space for treatment. Lighthouse’s expert staff will help evaluate and identify each client’s need, provide immediate stabilization then coordinate the appropriate care.
“A Children’s Urgent Recover Center allows us to intervene early, linking children and families to vital community resources,” Pfau said, in a news release after the ceremony. “This reduces the need for out-of-county residential crisis and provides support within our community.”