www.nedeltahsa.org
NEWS RELEASE
     
Regional Officials Mark Groundbreaking of
Much-Needed Inpatient Psychiatric Facility
in Northeast Louisiana
 

October 26, 2016 -- Monroe, LA --  Today state and local officials joined together to officially break ground on a new inpatient psychiatric center that will fill a significant behavioral healthcare gap in northeastern Louisiana.
 
Bland Greeson, Rayville Recovery Administrator, is leading the efforts to stand up the new inpatient psychiatric facility. He said the facility will have up to 84 beds. "This facility will not only treat patients with co-occurring mental health and addiction issues, it will also ensure that people receive long-term inpatient care and transition with employment and housing to bolster their successful recovery."
 
The facility is being financed and operated by private investors who have worked closely with public entities to determine and meet regional healthcare needs. "As we conducted town halls across northeast Louisiana, hundreds of citizens expressed the need for more psychiatric and addictions treatment facilities," said Dr. Monteic A. Sizer, Northeast Delta HSA (NE Delta HSA) Executive Director. "Today, I can announce that need is becoming a reality."
 
"As promised to Sheriffs, Chiefs of Police, Coroners, and District Attorneys," said Dr. Sizer, "we are well on our way to building that continuum of care from arrest to community reentry. Additional psychiatric and addiction beds will create alternatives to arrest, and help prevent nonviolent offenders who have mental illness and drug addictions from languishing untreated in jails."
 
State Rep. Charles "Bubba" Chaney said "this facility will meet peoples' fundamental needs around mental health care, which is so important to constituents in our rural areas. It will also boost our communities' economic development with new jobs." Marion Mayor Kenneth Franklin said "I've lived here my whole life, and it's great to see this facility revitalized for our citizens."
 
Senator Mike Walsworth was also in attendance at today's groundbreaking ceremony. "The closer to home people can get help, the better," he said. "We greatly appreciate the investment in our community."
 
"I respect the entrepreneurs who heard our call for more inpatient facilities," said Dr. Sizer. "Their compassion for the mentally ill and those who abuse drugs is what our region needs. The improved economic development and additional jobs that will come to northeast Louisiana with these expanded care options will help expand hope and opportunity for our region's people."
 
The new facility is slated to open in early 2017.
 
Click here to see photos from the groundbreaking ceremony on the NE Delta HSA Facebook page. 


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About Northeast Delta Human Services Authority (Northeast Delta HSA )
Northeast Delta HSA directs the operation of community-based programs to improve the quality of life of people with major mental illness, developmental disabilities and addictive disorders. Northeast Delta HSA is devoted to deliver programs and services that encourage people to reach their true human potential.
 
Three tenets guide our efforts: excellent customer service, greater access to services and competent, quality care. Northeast Delta HSA serves citizens in 12 parishes of northeastern Louisiana: Caldwell, East Carroll, West Carroll, Ouachita, Lincoln, Madison, Franklin, Morehouse, Jackson, Tensas, Richland and Union. For more information, please visit our website at www.nedeltahsa.org or call 318-362-3270.
 
Media Contact:
Jill Hirsekorn
Northeast Delta HSA Public Information Director
2513 Ferrand Street, Monroe, LA 71201
Phone 318-362-5482