Community invited to Treatment & Recovery Center dedication ceremony and open house on June 23

A dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony for the Treatment and Recovery Center (TRC) will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 23, followed by an open house until 7 p.m.

The dedication will include brief remarks by Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center CEO Patrick Schmitz, LMH Health President and CEO Russ Johnson, Douglas County Commission Chair Shannon Reid and Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard.

“When we or our loved ones are experiencing a crisis, especially a psychiatric emergency, we require the support of people who know what they are doing and who are compassionate and understanding in doing it,” said TRC Executive Director George Thompson. “Our team aims to be trustworthy and competent companions for those who need our services. We want them to leave our facility with their hope and well-being restored and with the support essential to moving forward with their lives. “

The TRC, located at 1000 W. Second St., is part of the Treatment and Recovery Campus of Douglas County and will serve community members with serious mental illness, substance use disorders and addiction issues.  The TRC is scheduled to open this summer. The Treatment and Recovery Campus includes the supportive housing facilities, Transitions and The Cottages at Green Lake, which were completed in 2021.

The TRC will provide immediate access to care and connect people to community resources that puts them on the path to recovery. It is the place where community members can come whether they're seeking a life change or find themselves in crisis and need help immediately.

The 20,436-square-foot TRC facility will provide behavioral health crisis services performed by a patient-focused, multi-disciplinary team. Staff will include mental health professionals, peer support specialists, behavioral health specialists, licensed addiction staff, case managers and psychiatric professionals. The crisis recovery center will have an access center, 23-hour observation unit, and crisis stabilization unit.

"We are excited to introduce the groundbreaking Treatment and Recovery Center to our community," said Russ Johnson, LMH Health President and CEO. "The center is a wonderful example of how community partnerships can lead to something amazing. We are grateful to be a part of the vital work of mental health and addiction recovery work and are excited about the positive impact it will have on our community."

"The TRC will be a vital local resource for generations to come, and we have the people of Douglas County community to thank for this critical investment,” Douglas County Commission Chair Shannon Reid said. “Service providers, grassroots advocates, and dedicated government staff have been tirelessly working to develop an integrated behavioral health system in our county that is accessible, compassionate, and responsive to the needs of people in crisis. I am incredibly proud of Douglas County for making strides toward better systems, and a culture, of care."

The estimated cost to design, construct and furnish the TRC is $10.6 million and it will be funded through a variety of resources including the quarter-cent sales tax that was approved by voters in November 2018 to improve behavioral health services and facilities in Douglas County. Treanor HL is the architect for the building and Mar Lan Construction provided construction management services.

The Behavioral Health Leadership Coalition partners have been instrumental in planning efforts for the center. These agencies include: LMH Health, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, DCCCA, Heartland Community Health Center, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, Heartland Regional Alcohol and Drug Assessment Center (RADAC), Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority and Kansas Suicide Prevention Headquarters.

“We’re very honored and excited to be part of this project, and we are so appreciative of our agency partners who join us in delivering these critical services,” Bert Nash Center CEO Patrick Schmitz said. “Because of that support and access to services, the destructive cycle of untreated mental illness will be broken, and countless lives will be changed and improved.”

Douglas County Director of Behavioral Health Projects Bob Tryanski said, “It’s tempting to focus on all of the work that has been done and all of the people who made this happen, but the real cause for celebration is that lives will be saved and changed for the better.  That’s what happens when people come together to do what’s right, when it’s right, because it’s right.”