Genesee Health System, a public mental health service provider, recently opened a new center dedicated to children’s mental health.
The Flint, Michigan center recently received a financing boost from the local government that is expected to increase revenues by nearly $10 million annually.
Genesee experienced soaring demand for mental health services in the wake of Flint’s well-publicized water quality crisis, which involved high levels of lead in the drinking water supply. The water crisis combined with COVID-19 infections increased demand for services even more. These developments helped people to overcome reluctance about seeking mental health services, said Dan Russell, Chief Executive Officer at Genesee. “That helped to reduce the stigma.”
The increased demand for services got local health providers thinking about proposing a millage tax increase that would provide more funding. “We did take the bold step of asking people to pay more in the middle of a pandemic,” Russell shared.
Local voters approved the idea in 2021, and the increased funding, along with other sources, is allowing Genesee to expand services and outreach efforts. One recent addition is a 60,000-square-foot Center for Children’s Integrated Service, which is focused on children’s mental health needs. Development of the center allowed Genesee to consolidate services that had been in three separate locations. The facility includes a large learning center for children with autism and a Neurodevelopmental Center of Excellence that provides neuropsychological assessments for children exposed to lead in Flint water.
Genesee provides mental health services to about 12,000 people a year, and about 55% of them are adults. Unlike many health centers that have traditionally started by offering primary care and adding mental health services, Genesee started as a mental health provider and eventually added primary care. The new children’s center offers mental health services and will expand to provide primary care this year.