Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center has announced plans to expand its services as the designated community mental health center (CMHC) for behavioral health services in Warren and Lawrence townships. Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center has been approved by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) to assume CMHC responsibilities currently held by Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health. 

Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center is working with Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health on the transition to support continued access to high-quality, community-based care. Both organizations are committed to providing a seamless and supportive transition for individuals, families and community partners. 

The state designates CMHC catchment areas, assigning a community mental health center to serve a defined geographic area. The expansion of Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center’s CMHC catchment area is expected to be finalized before the end of the year. Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center will become the designated CMHC for four of the nine townships in Marion County. The townships are Center, Lawrence, Wayne and Warren townships. 

“We are honored to have the opportunity to serve Marion County in an expanded capacity by providing services in Warren and Lawrence townships,” said Ashley Overley, M.D., CEO of Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center and vice president of mental health operations for Eskenazi Health. “This transition also allows us to expand Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic services into new locations, which we see as additional enhancement of services for those locations. We are grateful for the partnership with Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health and their collaboration in supporting the transition.”

Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center, Indiana’s first community mental health center, offers strengths-based and family- and community-centered inpatient and outpatient programs that use the Recovery Model of treatment for emotional and behavioral problems, including substance use. Utilizing evidence-based practices resulting from ongoing research and medical advancements, care decisions are team-based and emphasize family and patient participation.

Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center outpatient locations are open to all, and services are not denied to individuals based on inability to pay. Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center currently operates nine outpatient sites and residential facilities. The expansion of services will result in Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center hiring additional staff and adding locations to serve patients in Warren and Lawrence townships. 

Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center and Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health are committed to supporting the community’s behavioral health and broader health care needs, ensuring a seamless, person-centered transition of care.

“Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health is pleased to partner with Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center to support a smooth and thoughtful transition of services,” said George Hurd, vice president of Behavioral Health for Community Health Network. “Our shared focus remains on ensuring a strong continuity of care and ensuring each individual and family continues to receive the services they need.”

Eskenazi Health is one of America’s essential health care systems, providing high quality, patient centered care to residents of Marion County and beyond. As the public hospital division of the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Eskenazi Health provides a comprehensive range of primary care, mental health and specialty care services. 

About Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center 

Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) that provides services to anyone in Marion County, Indiana seeking mental health or substance use treatment. Care is available to all, regardless of ability to pay, age, race, ethnicity, language, sexual/gender orientation or place of residence. Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center supports the greater mission of Eskenazi Health to advocate, care, teach and serve with special emphasis on the vulnerable populations of Marion County. For more information about Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center, please visit eskenazihealth.edu/sandra-eskenazi-mental-health-center.  

About Community Health Network 

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Community Health Network has been deeply committed to the communities it serves since opening its first hospital, Community Hospital East, in 1956. Community Health Network puts patients first while offering a full continuum of health care services, world-class innovations and a new focus on population health management. Exceptional care, simply delivered, is what sets Community Health Network apart and what makes it a leading not-for-profit health care destination in central Indiana. For more information about Community Health Network, please visit eCommunity.com.