Heartland Community Health Center will welcome the public to a ribbon cutting and celebration of its new Bluestem Wellness Building, which will allow the clinic to expand its psychiatry and behavioral health services.
The celebration will start at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26. The new building at 534 Michigan St. is east of Heartland’s main building at 1312 W. Sixth St.
The new building includes spaces for services including individual therapy, play therapy, psychological testing and psychiatric care suites. There’s also a multipurpose room for group therapy and other programing. The second floor will provide administrative spaces for billing and a centralized call center, according to a news release from Heartland.
“The public is welcome to attend the ribbon cutting and the building will be open afterwards so people can see the spaces,” Julie Branstrom, Heartland CEO, said Thursday.
The $1.33 million project broke ground in November 2023. It used more than $580,000 in federal grants, $325,000 in regional grants and $420,000 in local philanthropic investments, according to the release.
“Heartland remains committed to delivering high-quality care to our community, and that includes behavioral health services,” Branstrom said in the release. “The need for these services continues to increase and we are keenly aware of the role that mental health plays in a person’s overall health. This new building doesn’t just create more access to care, but also creates a space where people feel comfortable seeking help.”
Bluestem will open to patients on Oct. 1.
Heartland is a federal safety net clinic that provides care for insured, uninsured and underinsured patients. It offers a food pantry, pharmacy, dental care, reproductive health care and more.
“In 2023, Heartland provided mental health services to 4,830 patients,” according to the release. “1,414 patients were seen by Behavioral Health Staff and the remaining 3,416 were managed by a medical provider in Family Medicine or Pediatrics.”
Learn more about the clinic and find out how to get health care online at heartlandhealth.org.
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