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Hamilton Center reports serving about 4,200 Vigo County patients; details mobile crisis expansion and charity care
Summary
Hamilton Center presented its annual report for July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024: about 4,200 Vigo County patients served, roughly 16 inpatient beds, mobile crisis coverage expanded and about $2 million in charity care reported.
Emily Owens, chief of clinical outreach for Hamilton Center, presented the community mental‑health provider’s annual report to the council, covering July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.
Owens said Hamilton Center served approximately 4,200 patients in Vigo County during that period, about 3,000 adults and 1,200 youth, and completed a similar number of initial intakes. She said the organization’s average wait for an initial appointment is about 17 days but that walk‑in options are available.
Nut graf: The report highlighted expanded mobile crisis services, partnerships with hospitals and schools, substance‑use and mental‑health service volumes, and an estimate of charity care. Owens said Hamilton Center is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) and operates a mobile crisis hub that can serve a 45‑mile radius from Vigo County and an additional Sullivan County hub.
Owens outlined substance‑use treatment locations, outpatient addiction services, an opioid treatment program and a 90‑day transitional living unit. She said common adult diagnoses were generalized anxiety, major depressive disorder and PTSD; common youth diagnoses included conduct disorders and anxiety. She also said Hamilton Center provided about $2,000,000 in charity care during the reported year.
Council members queried board appointment processes and county representation on Hamilton Center’s board and asked for clarification about how board members are chosen and whether counties contribute funding. Owens said board candidates are reviewed by the center’s board and that Hamilton Center receives county funding from the counties it serves; she stated Vigo County’s most recent report showed roughly $737,000 in county support (as reported to the council during the meeting).
Ending: Council members asked about inpatient capacity (Owens said Hamilton Center operates a 16‑bed inpatient unit and that beds are typically full) and coordination with law enforcement and the jail for crisis drop‑offs and diversion. Owens said Hamilton Center coordinates with local partners and arranges referrals to inpatient units in other counties when the local unit is full.
