Reaching for a brighter future

MONTROSE — Midwestern Colorado Mental Health Center broke ground Thursday for the expansion of its outpatient clinic, marking the start of the center’s $2.8 million capital improvement plan.

“Overall our staff has grown. We are providing more services. We are serving more people and need more room,” said Jon Gordon, the center’s executive director.

With a 44 percent growth in personnel over the last four years, the center has decided to expand its existing clinic by 3,049 square feet. The facility at 605 E. Miami Road will provide the center with 15 new offices, said Janey Sorensen, grant writer and contract manager for the center.

“It practically doubles the existing building. We’ll pull people that should be in the building but are housed elsewhere,” she said, providing a central location for outpatient services.

Gordon said construction will start in about 10 days and be completed in about five months.

“Currently we are busting at the seams. We have people sharing offices and shuffling offices. We have also hired a new full-time psychologist, so we’ll have room for him to provide services. We’ll be able to provide more groups — more room to provide services,” said Shaun Sowle, program supervisor of outpatient services.

The center’s budget estimates the addition will cost $802,030.

The existing building will also receive a “facelift,” Gordon said.

“The facility is going to be welcoming. It’s going to be a great building and a great addition to the community,” he said.

The center is also improving other areas of its service. It recently purchased an approximate 4,000-square-foot building in Delta. The new facility will provide the center with space for empowerment programs that focus on clients providing mutual support for each other, Sowle said.

Sorensen said plans for the Delta facility are underway and the is expected to be in use in about five months. Costs are estimated at $195,171.

The center is also planning to build a multipurpose facility, which will break ground in April. The facility will provide staff training opportunities and expand on the center’s on-line support and training services.

It will be located next to the outpatient clinic and expenses are estimated at $821,709.

“The hope is that the conference center will also be a community resource. Not only will we use it but also other community helping agencies will be able to use it. There are a lot of community trainings but there are not a lot of places to have training,” Sowle said.

The center currently has 92 employees across six counties, including Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Ouray and San Miguel. The are seven offices throughout the counties and four outreach locations.

In the last several years, the center has increased services for such things as depression, substance abuse and early childhood. The center also recently teamed up with Montrose County School District Re-1J in opening a school-based health clinic.

Having provided mental health services in the area for the last 43 years, the center is a big asset to the community, Gordon said.

“Aside from the treatment standpoint, our budget is over $5 million a year. I think we not only provide a good health component, but we generate revenue for the community,” he said.

The community is assisting in some of the finances associated with improvements, but the majority of funds are coming from loans and grants.

Sorensen said she is working on obtaining several grants. Beottcher Foundation has made a site visit and she is waiting to hear back. She’s also working with the Department of Local Affairs to see if the center can work into its program. There are also technology grant possibilities.

Money from the sale of its old Delta facility will also support improvements.

“We are looking at other grants to fund the project, but we are moving ahead,” Gordon said. “We are just ready to go.”