Behavioral center on Des Moines' east side takes first steps toward expansion

An expansion is on the horizon for an east-side behavioral center at a time when mental health struggles and substance abuse is on the rise.

Prelude Behavioral Services, located at 3451 Easton Blvd., recently received the green light from the Des Moines City Council to rezone its eight-acre property from Low Density Residential to Neighborhood Mixed Use.

The rezoning is the first step in a 3- to 5-year campaign to expand the facility and its services, according to executive director Michelle De La Riva, who said the expansion comes at a pinnacle moment when, now more than ever, Iowans are in need of outpatient and residential clinic services.

"What we really are seeing in our office, which is our outpatient clinic here in Des Moines ... is the number of people coming in for substance use evaluations and mental health assessments is just increasing," De La Riva said.

A 2021 report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that Iowa saw 419 drug overdose deaths in 2020 compared to 350 in 2019. The state also consistently has one of the nation's highest rates of binge drinking.

Nationwide alcohol consumption in the U.S. rose 14% during the pandemic, according to an analysis of several studies by USA TODAY. The number of heavy drinking days among women, in particular, rose by 41%.

In addition, more than 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses during the 12 months following the COVID-19 lockdowns — the most overdose deaths ever recorded in a 1-year span.

'Our focus right now is to expand our outpatient clinic'

Prelude will take on its expansion in different phases, with its overall goal to first expand its current outpatient facility and eventually bring its residential treatment facility, which is currently located at 3807 Easton Blvd., onto its main campus.

"Our focus right now is to expand our outpatient clinic," said De La Riva. "The expansion really would be looking at adding additional group rooms as well as individual offices for additional staff members."

The outpatient facility currently has three group rooms, which could host 15-18 people at a time before the pandemic. But now, during the height of the pandemic — using best practices, including masking and social distancing — groups are limited to about eight people at a time.

"That really cut into our ability to really serve people in the capacity that we were used to," De La Riva said.

In response, the center is looking to add two larger group rooms and six individual offices to its outpatient facility.

"It really will be a beautiful area for folks coming in for substance use mental health and gambling treatment," De La Riva said. "I feel that people with chronic conditions ... deserve to come into a program that is welcoming and inviting."

Other future additions to the campus could include gender-neutral spaces for the residential program as well as a possible sobering center. Those possibilities will be researched through a feasibility study, in which Prelude will assess the needs of the community by meeting with community members and stakeholders before launching a capital campaign.

Many residents at last week's City Council meeting spoke in favor of the expansion, saying it's greatly needed in the metro.

"This is really close to my heart and has impacted my life a lot over the last year ... (and) in the life of my family," Des Moines resident Natalie Harwood told council members. "We don't have nearly enough services and especially enough beds in the area, so I think that this is a really good idea."

Ward 2 council member Linda Westergaard told the Register the expansion received an overwhelmingly positive response from residents at a neighborhood meeting hosted by Prelude late last year.

"The location is a very peaceful (and) serene," Westergaard said. "It's been used as a mental health facility for years and years and years and I'm absolutely supportive of it."

Next, the center will look for data from community partners to figure out how the expansion can continue to support residents as needs evolve.

"We want to be available to help all people, you know, because this affects everyone," De La Riva said. "It doesn't matter what profession you're in, your socioeconomic status ... It affects everyone, no one is exempt."

Melody Mercado covers Des Moines city government for the Register. Reach her at mmercado@registermedia.com or Twitter @melodymercadotv.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines, Iowa behavioral center takes first steps toward expansion