The nonprofit Substance Abuse Network celebrated the opening of its first primary care center in Waterbury on Friday.
McCall Behavioral Health Network provides primary care services such as preventive care, vaccinations, and wellness exams, as well as youth services programs.
“We can take care of children, adults, families, all of their primary care needs here, and we can take care of their mental health needs as well,” said McCall Behavioral Health Network President and CEO. Maria Coutant Skinner said.
Youth services programs include individual, family, and group therapy, as well as psychiatric services and intensive outpatient programs.
Joy Pendra, chief clinical officer of the McCall Behavioral Health Network, said part of their mission is to provide early intervention to children and adolescents.
As a marriage and family therapist, she shared some of the challenges children face.
“There’s tremendous anxiety, loneliness and hopelessness,” Pendra said.
She said she believes their center will reach troubled youth, who are facing challenges other generations wouldn’t like due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the pressures of social media. Ta.
“All of the curriculum that we use, all of the evidence-based services that we use, are really completely oriented towards the developmental stage of the child and also on an individual level. ,” Pendra said.
The center will provide services to anyone who needs them, regardless of whether they have insurance or not.
Coutant Skinner said it’s very important to her to be able to serve as many people as possible.
“While we enroll people in all types of health insurance, we also recognize that the insurance card in your wallet can actually be a barrier to accessing these services,” Coutant said. Skinner said.
“People are worried about deductibles, copays, or not having insurance, so we work to make sure all patients are seen, regardless of their ability to pay. ” she continued.
Rep. Jahana Hayes, a Waterbury native, said the primary care center and all its services would fill a huge void in the city.
“I’m really happy that McCall decided to open this type of center here in Waterbury because I know a lot of families who benefit from not just direct services, but support for their families and all of those things.” I’m excited,” Hayes said. .
Senator Richard Blumenthal, who also attended the event, said young people are experiencing a mental health crisis and centers like this would be a great help.
“They need and deserve this kind of hand up for them. This isn’t a hand up, it’s a hand up in the medical field,” Blumenthal said.
