Oaklawn opens mental health crisis center in South Bend

WNDU-TV
Updated ·2 min read

Oaklawn on Friday opened a new mental health crisis center that officials say will allow them to expand their services and help more people.

“The mental health field is changing rapidly," Oaklawn President and CEO Laurie Nafziger said in a release. "It’s an exciting time, and we’re very proud to be able to expand our services to help meet our community’s needs. This newbuilding helps us do that. We can better serve our clients and community, for years to come.”

Laurie Nafziger
Laurie Nafziger

The newly renovated, 60,000-square-foot building, located at 415 E. Madison St. in South Bend, is a “one-stop-shop” that offers mental health, substance abuse and health care services. The project cost $16.2 million, including a $5 million ongoing capital campaign, officials said, noting that the facility will employ 250 people.

“We know that this is part of health care," South Bend Mayor James Mueller said, according to our partners at WNDU-TV. "We need to make sure that the whole person is healthy and making sure that people have the resources and access to the services to get the help they need. That’s critical, and we are so thankful for Oaklawn.”

Mayor James Mueller speaks at the groundbreaking of the Oaklawn Crisis Center in South bend on Tuesday August 8, 2023.
Mayor James Mueller speaks at the groundbreaking of the Oaklawn Crisis Center in South bend on Tuesday August 8, 2023.

There are also new programs such as homeless outreach and open access, which allow patients to walk in for services.

“I mean, even today when we were setting up, our clients were coming up and saying, ‘What are you guys doing?’ We are having a ribbon cutting to celebrate. They are like, ‘This new building is beautiful. It’s welcoming and it’s warm. It’s someplace we want to come for services.’ And that was really our biggest goal was that people feel safe and welcome when they come in,” Oaklawn Foundation Executive Director Kari Tarman told WNDU.

The crisis center will still be across the street, but patients can go to this building for additional services.

“If somebody comes to the crisis response center that’s 24/7 care, they might need outpatient," Tarman said. "So, if somebody can wait there and be safe then wait for our clinic to open at 8 a.m. and then be transferred over here to either meet with a therapist or psychiatrist depending on need."

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Oaklawn to expand services at new mental health crisis center