Centerstone growth, EMS services highlight commissioners’ meeting

Local News X Brown County Commissioners received updates Wednesday night, May 20, on mental health services, with much of the discussion focused on the growing reach of Centerstone’s local behavioral health programs. Laura Young, Brown County’s representative on the Centerstone Board of Directors, opened the presentation by updating commissioners on the organization’s recent merger with another large behavioral health nonprofit, Brightli, which occurred last November. Young said the merger has significantly expanded Centerstone’s reach and resources. Young said Centerstone is now the largest behavioral health nonprofit organization in the United States and operates in multiple states, including Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, North Carolina and Georgia. In Indiana, Centerstone recently expanded its designated service area to include Marion and Johnson counties in addition to counties such as Brown, Monroe, Morgan, Bartholomew, Jennings and Lawrence. Centerstone Brown County Office Manager Amanda Kinnaird followed with an update on local services, telling commissioners the organization has grown enough to require a satellite office at the YMCA on Willow Street after outgrowing its longtime location on Old State Road 46. Kinnaird said Centerstone currently employs about 60 staff members serving Brown County residents and provided 4,608 services to 574 clients in April alone. “We were getting to the point where we were finding random spaces to try to have connection for mental health,” Kinnaird said of the previous office limitations. “It has been a true game changer to have the space at the YMCA.” Kinnaird said the YMCA location added 10 office spaces and a large group room, helping accommodate the growing need for office-based counseling while still allowing staff to provide home-based, school-based, community-based and virtual services. She also highlighted what she described as an outpouring of support from local artists who donated artwork to help make the new YMCA location feel more welcoming. “It moved me to see the community kind of pour that in,” Kinnaird said, noting that many donors shared stories about how mental health services had touched their lives or families. Kinnaird emphasized Centerstone’s 24-hour mobile crisis services, encouraging residents to save the crisis number, 1-877-463-6512, for immediate mental health support. She said the service is free and available around the clock, even for people who are not current clients. “This is not mental health support that’s specific to only thoughts about suicide,” Kinnaird said. “This could be somebody who’s really struggling with parenting their kids and is worried they’re going to lose it. Somebody who’s been trying not to drink and is thinking about drinking. Someone who’s struggling with anxiety.” Kinnaird also encouraged use of the national 988 crisis line and said Centerstone provides free overdose and suicide prevention resources, including naloxone, prescription medication mail-back bags and firearm gun locks. Emergency Management Director Corey Frost then gave commissioners an overview of Brown County’s emergency medical services system, focusing on the difference between Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS). Frost, who also serves locally as an EMT instructor and paramedic, explained that BLS involves non-invasive emergency care such as CPR, oxygen administration, bleeding control and patient stabilization typically performed by EMTs, law enforcement or volunteer firefighters. ALS, by contrast, includes advanced procedures such as IV medications, cardiac monitoring, advanced airway management and treatment for critical emergencies such as cardiac arrest, overdoses and severe trauma. “Your ALS is only as good as your BLS provider,” Frost said, explaining that emergency care often depends on first responders stabilizing patients before paramedics arrive. Frost said Brown County currently operates two Advanced Life Support ambulances through its contract with IU Health Lifeline. He said the county also relies heavily on volunteer fire departments and emergency responders who are trained in basic medical care. Commissioners discussed concerns about ambulance staffing, emergency transport limitations and costs related to the county’s EMS contract. Clark noted the county is facing a projected increase of roughly $290,000 related to ambulance service while still operating with two ALS-equipped ambulances. Earlier in the meeting, commissioners approved an addendum to the county’s bridge inspection contract with Egis Engineering after additional inspections and required work were identified to comply with state and federal law. Commissioner Kevin Patrick said several bridges required additional inspections, load ratings and follow-up work that were not included in the original contract, including bridges requiring six-month inspection cycles and newly identified structures needing review. The addendum totals $144,375.46 over four years, with 80 percent paid through federal funding and 20 percent covered by the county. Commissioner Patrick said the county’s share will total approximately $108,697.99 over four years, or about $27,174 annually. A planned discussion regarding a contract with the Brown County Humane Society was removed from the agenda after commissioners said negotiations were nearing completion but would need to wait until the next meeting. “We’re close, but we are going to have to take that up in our next meeting,” Clark said. Featured Local Savings