The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Facility opening for men’s home for addicts
Facility to serve those struggling with substance abuse
Signature Health is increasing its tools to fight the opioid epidemic with a residential facility for men.
The C.H. Everett Clinic — named for founding board member Chandler Everett — is opening at 7621 Mentor Ave. to help men ages 18 and older on their road to sobriety. The site is behind businesses fronting the north side of Mentor Avenue and west of Plaza Boulevard.
The facility will provide 16 beds, private bathrooms, a fully stocked kitchen and be staffed 24 hours a day.
Services will include: • One-on-one group counseling • Medication-assisted treatment
• Psychiatry
• Recovery group sessions
• Basic nursing services, such as coordination with medical providers
• Wellness activities like yoga, life skills, weekly visits to the YMCA, etc.
• Recovery resource and education services (case management)
• Pharmacy and laboratory services on-site
• HIV and Hepatitis C screening and education on-site
Individuals self-identifying as male, over the age of 18, who are deemed “psychiatrically stable” will qualify for intake.
Potential residents must also be cognitively able to participate and engage in daily programming, such as group sessions and counseling.
“We recognize the immediate need for addiction recovery services for men in this area, especially at a time when opioid overdoses continue to wreak havoc in our local communities,” said Signature Health CEO Jonathan Lee. “The C.H. Everett Clinic will provide those struggling with drugs or alcohol the short-term living arrangements and care necessary to recover.”
The Oak House in Painesville is a similar facility for women.
The new home was to open to the public on April 6, but has been delayed due to novel coronavirus concerns.
Founded in 1992, Cleveland-based Signature Health Inc. is a communitybased agency providing primary medical care, mental health and substance abuse services to people of all ages.
The agency has six locations across Northeast Ohio.
In response to the pandemic, Signature Health is now offering telemedicine services. It is one of the only health care facilities in the state providing such services to patients for mental and behavioral health.
“We accept Medicare (and) Medicaid for those services, including primary care services,” Lee said. “There are many Ohioans who have lost jobs and no longer have insurance; we also accept patients with no insurance.
“Our facilities are still open for walk-ins and primary care appointments as well.”
All patients are being screened for in-person appointments.
The clinic is being funded with support from Lake County ADAMHS Board,
Lake Health, an Ohio Capital Grant and the Cleveland Foundation. Ongoing operational support that is needed beyond Medicare and Medicaid benefits is also supplied by the ADAMHS Board and a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration.
“There’s very little to no costs for men who stay here,” Lee said. “We will bill Medicaid/Medicare, and if they have no insurance, we base the costs off a sliding scale fee.”
The men’s home is anticipated to employ 20 people and resumes are still being accepted at signaturehealthinc.org/careers.
“In these difficult times, Signature Health’s efforts to provide critical services in the areas of mental health, substance abuse and primary care are essential for men struggling in our society,” Mentor Economic Development Director Kevin Malecek said. “While this facility brings more jobs to Mentor, its function as a community resource and asset is perhaps even more valuable.”
For more information, call 440-571-5520 or visit signaturehealthinc.org.