Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton has opened a new Family Access Center in East Windsor to meet the outpatient mental health needs of adults and children in eastern Mercer County.
The center fills a gap in a region where access to mental health services is limited and suicides and overdose deaths have been rising. Most of the staff is bilingual to better serve the region’s Spanish-speaking population. The center serves children and adults regardless of religion, insurance type, citizenship and ability to pay.
“We’re excited to offer outpatient services to the East Windsor community,” said Lisa Lawson, certified community-based health clinic expansion director. “The Family Access Center offers mental health therapy in a comfortable and friendly setting while accommodating individuals and families with limited access to service due to transportation, financial or linguistic barriers.”
The center is funded under a $4 million, two-year grant Catholic Charities received last year from the federal Substance and Mental Health Services Administration to expand its certified community-based health clinic, or CCBHC, work. CCBHCs are a new provider type in Medicaid, part of a national initiative to expand Americans’ access to mental health and addiction care in community-based settings. Components of care include 24-hour crisis care, use of evidence-based practices, care coordination, and integration with physical health care.
The new center is located at 569 Abbington Drive. Hours are 3 to 8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and noon to 9 p.m. Fridays. The office soon will offer Saturday morning hours, too. Walk-ins are welcome.