Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch recently hosted a ribbon-cutting grand opening ceremony for its newly remodeled space offering a warm and welcoming environment for adults and children in need of outpatient behavioral health crisis intervention services.
Licensed by the New Jersey Division of Mental Health Services, the Early Intervention Support Services (EISS) program located at 3301 Route 66 in Neptune is designed to provide up to 30 days of outpatient behavioral health treatment for Monmouth County adults older than 18 who have serious mental illness and are at risk of needing hospital services.
Its new Child and Adolescent Crisis Diversion Program is a brief outpatient program that focuses on meeting the emotional, behavioral and psychiatric needs of children and adolescents between the ages of 5-17 and their families, by providing rapid access to mental health services.
Marli Gelfand, assistant vice president of Behavioral Health Services at MMC, told the nearly 50 people gathered for the dedication that to create a healing space, it’s important to offer an environment of care that is warm, welcoming, and respectful.
“When major changes or catastrophic life events occur, those with mental illnesses are more susceptible and vulnerable to experiencing crises, and this beautiful new space shows our most vulnerable patients that they are really cared for and respected,” she said. “We are so proud to now officially dedicate this space that shows not only our patients, but also our courageous staff who are here to give hope to everyone who works through our doors, how important they are.”
To date in 2024, more than 600 individuals have been treated through the EISS program, and since opening this summer, the Child and Adolescent Crisis Diversion Program has assisted more than 60 families whose children needed intensive mental health services.
“EISS bridges the gap for adult patients with mental illness who may have stopped treatment, have begun experiencing difficulties and are having a hard time reconnecting with outpatient services,” Cheryl Caputo, LCSW, director of Early Intervention Support Services, said. “And our goal with our Child and Adolescent Crisis Diversion Program is to provide a safe, compassionate and trauma-sensitive environment to youth and their families to decrease the need for a higher level of care and to maintain safety in the community.”
The goal of the program is to provide individuals with a timely alternative to emergency room crisis units. For patients who have already been evaluated by a crisis unit, the programs are able to provide treatment so that inpatient psychiatric treatment and hospitalization can be avoided. The programs’ multidisciplinary team work collaboratively with each patient to help them overcome these challenges so that symptoms can be stabilized, and they can begin to function at their full potential.
Also unveiled as a part of the grand opening was the Frank and Valerie Montecalvo Wall of Inspiration. The display in the main waiting room offers words of wisdom and positive quotes to help inspire hope in patients and families on their journey to wellness.
Eric Carney, president and CEO of both MMC and Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, noted that the celebration of the newly remodeled space that patients come to for Early Intervention Support Services is an important reminder that the goal of the remodel was to create an environment that encourages positivity.
“Monmouth Medical Center is dedicating to improving access to care and bringing care to our community,” he said. “The EISS Program has existed for more than a decade, touching the lives of thousands of individuals with a safe place that sends a very strong message of hope that tells our patients that they are going to be o.k. What makes this place so special is our amazing early intervention teams, and we are so grateful to our generous supporters who have enabled us to create this beautiful healing space that helps to remove the stigma that people seeking mental health care often feel.”
