BHP of Central Ohio opens mental health urgent care in downtown Newark
NEWARK – The need to help those with emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues, and the homeless, has been well documented in Newark for some time.
One response to that growing and troubling need will be Monday’s opening of the Care Now Clinic, an urgent care facility operated by Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio in downtown Newark.
The clinic will be open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at 104 E. Main St., south of First Street, in the lower level of the former Knights of Pythias building, facing East Main Street. The last appointment each day will be taken at 5 p.m., but appointments are not required.
About 50 community leaders, healthcare professionals and interested persons attended a ribbon-cutting and tour on Thursday.
Kate St. James, president and CEO of BHP, said the hours may be expanded to weekends or evenings in the future, when community needs are better defined.
“The behavioral health needs continue to escalate and over the past 18 months, it has exploded,” St. James said. “People who have never reached out in the past are entering service for the first time.
“We just want to make sure we’re offering another door for them to get into service. We’ve heard quite a bit from our partners, the courts and police, just how needed this service is, and we’re definitely excited.”
The facility includes a small reception area, office space and some small conference rooms. It will employ an outpatient therapist, crisis intervention specialist, case coordinator, support staffer, advance nurse practitioner and peer support specialist. It will be like existing urgent care locations, but for behavioral, emotional and mental health.
“We want to make sure people get the care they need,” St. James said. “Because we’ve been doing this work for so long, we have a good sense for the type of concerns that will walk through the door, but we won’t know.”
The Care Now Clinic will provide intervention counseling, crisis services, emergency psychiatry, case management and peer support.
Hollie Linton, the BHP satellite operations manager and a licensed social worker with a background in emergency response, said some already tried to enter the facility when they saw the sign.
“I live and work in this community, so I’m pretty familiar with the population,” Linton said. “I think we’re filling a gap in service that’s in high need, and I anticipate the volume to be great.”
Linton said she expects the new facility to also serve the homeless population in the city.
“I think there’s a great need to address the housing instability within our community,” Linton said. “That will be something we’ll inherently be faced with. We’ll help provide them with resources and get them in touch with any organization that addresses housing.”
BHP, a private, non-profit behavioral healthcare organization, will rely on communication with its community partners to serve the various needs of their clients.
Ben Broyles, vice president of community health and wellness at Licking Memorial Hospital, was among those who attended the ribbon-cutting event.
“It’s a great space and a service that’s very valuable and important for our community,” Broyles said. “I think certainly the needs continue to grow within our community. The last 18 months to two years, with the pandemic, that’s exacerbated a lot of the need.”
City Councilman Jeremy Blake, the BHP board president, told the BHP employees he’s been impressed with their dedication and loyalty.
“You’re going on the front lines of helping people,” Blake said. “You’re going to be one of those champions. You’re here to save lives.
“BHP really does care about our community. We know everyone has dignity. We’re meeting people where they are. We’re expanding our services and expanding our locations. We’re going to where the need is.”
St. James said it’s unclear how many people the new urgenct care will serve, but she asked people to spread the word about the facility and its services.
“It’s hard to answer (how many) because it depends on who comes in and what their needs are,” St. James said. “I would encourage people who are scared or leery of coming in to call us and they can talk to somebody and maybe do some work over the phone.”
BHP is also in the process of hiring a homeless outreach specialist who will not be located at the urgent care location, but be out in the community. St. James said interviews are being conducted and the goal is to hire someone by the end of the year. kmallett@newarkadvocate.com Twitter: @kmallett1958