Mar. 30--HICKORY

People who need the services of Catawba Valley Behavioral Healthcare probably won't care that the new facility needs a little more work.

"Our clients' needs can't be put off," said Don Mott, CVBH chief clinical officer.

"We had to close Friday and Monday, but we're open for business today."

The non-profit agency was in the old Catawba County Mental Health building near Catawba Regional Medical Center.

It's now in downtown Hickory.

The agency was created when the county divested its mental health department in favor of private sources.

"The county is the managed-care entity," Mott said, "but it no longer provides direct services."

Most referrals to the agency go through the county, although Mott said the agency can address crisis situations immediately.

The county ensures certain standards are met, but the agency is an independent agency.

"We take clients who are on Medicaid or have private insurance," Mott said. "And we do have contracts with the county."

Moving to Hickory is good for the agency and the county, Mott said.

The agency was leasing part of the county facility, and the county was having to lease office space elsewhere.

Now, the agency is making payments on its own building, and the county can reclaim its own office space.

The agency is in two Hickory locations. The headquarters with doctors, therapists and case management is on First Avenue, NW, the old Duke Power building.

The administration and other client services are at the agency Fourth Street Plaza, across from Post Office Barbecue.

In all, the two sites represents a $1.8 million investment. Sixty employees and certified staff will work in Hickory.

The agency has launched the first in a series of annual capital campaigns to help retire the debt. They will disappear when the buildings are paid for, Mott said.

Every client service is up and running, he said, although there is still work to do on the buildings' interiors.

Monday, computers were being hooked up, offices arranged and walls getting coats of paint.

Boxes of items waited for their proper places.

"We have a few weeks of details left," Mott said, "but we won't miss a step with our clients."

He stressed that although the agency has taken over some of the county's former mental health services, "Anyone can walk in off the street and get help. We have an after-hours phone number."

If CVBH isn't the right agency to meet a person's needs, the agency will put the client in the right direction.

"We serve clients with severe and/or continuous mental illness or behavioral problems," Mott said. "We refer people to other agencies if they don't meet the diagnosis qualifications."

Several mental health services providers took over the former county government responsibilities.

Catawba Valley Behavioral Healthcare serves about 3,000 people in Catawba County and 1,000 people in Burke each year.

Clients come from all income levels.

Mott said mental health services are especially needed now.

"We're seeing a lot of people struggle because of the economy," he said. "It is affecting their mental health, and many don't have insurance.

"We're glad we can help, and we're happy to be in Hickory. It's better for us and better for our clients."

CVBH services

Assertive Community Treatment Team. Special psychiatric services.

Outpatient therapy and medication management, including individual, group and family counseling, psychiatric evaluations and medication management.

Case management. Individual treatment planning with links to services and resources.

Residential services for more than 60 people in apartments and group homes.

Mobile Crisis/Emergency services for on-call services, round the clock, 365 days a year.

Life skills. Training in independent living, pre-vocational and social skills.

Total professional and support staff: 120

For more about CVBH, call 695-5900 or go to www.cvbh.org.

For after-hours emergencies, call 877-327-2593.

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