The Foundation’s mission is to develop volunteer and financial resources to support the capital and operating needs of Ben Gordon Center. In cooperation with Ben Gordon Center, the Foundation helps educate the public about behavioral health issues.
As the community mental health center, it is our mission and goal to guarantee that everyone receives the behavioral care and services needed. We want to always be accessible and provide mental health care experts to carry on their important work in our schools, neighborhoods, collaborative agencies and community. Services are always provided to anyone in the community regardless of their ability to pay. The funds are also used to create awareness and educate the county on mental health issues. This year we were also able to start our Mental Health First Aid training for any county resident interested in attending. There is a small fee but the 8 hour course is certified, CEUs are available and certification is valid for 3 years.
All donations received by the Ben Gordon Center Foundation benefit the uninsured and underinsured consumers of DeKalb county. In 2013 over $320,000 of in-kind services were provided to the uninsured and underinsured. The funds are also used to create awareness and educate the county on mental health issues. This year we were also able to start our Mental Health First Aid training for any county resident interested in attending.
In FY-13, the Ben Gordon Center served over 6,100 clients. Our Emergency Crisis Assessment and Screening program provided crisis intervention services that served 1,092, Screening Assessment and Support Services screenings completed were 270 and 2,997 response line calls were answered. The Adult Mental Health program provided care for 1,818 clients and the Adult Alcohol and Substance Abuse total was 535. Child and Adolescent Mental Health served 742 while Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse saw 131. The Ben Gordon Center Rehabilitation Services Program served 220. The Prevention and Education program served 71,964 through community education and 4,160 through prevention efforts.
In 2013, the Ben Gordon Center continued to further our mission to reduce the burden caused by mental illness and addictions. Expanding our crisis and emergency services, we have experienced a 138% increase over the previous year in psychiatric emergency screenings. Opening the Living Room at our Community Support Campus as a crisis respite program, we provided a comfortable, non-clinical space that offers an alternative to hospital emergency rooms. By hosting nationally-recognized Mental Health First Aid training for the community, over 100 teachers, health workers, firefighters, police officers, college students, emergency services personnel, and other community members have been trained. Adding qualified and professional clinical staff to our team of caring professionals has allowed BGC to offer additional programs and services in the areas of eating disorders, non-suicidal self injury and anxiety treatments.