“The Connections Center is dedicated to passionately advocating for the people of Indian River County, ensuring they have access to programs and services that will enhance their lives,” said Brett Hall, executive director of the Mental Health Collaborative at a ceremony last Tuesday afternoon to dedicate the new facility as the McCabe Connections Center. “When we use words like dedication and passionate advocacy, we have only to look to Ellie and Bob McCabe; they are our role models. We strive to live up to their enduring legacy.”
“I’m very, very touched by this whole thing. This whole project, starting I guess 14 years ago, has been the most rewarding thing I have ever become involved in,” said Ellie McCabe, one of the founders of the MHC, before also paying tribute to husband Bob for his support.
The MHC is an affiliation of funders, providers, law enforcement and community partners working to increase access to mental-health services. The center is one of four initiatives in its strategic plan, which also included the 2015 launch of the Mental Health Court, reducing mental-health stigma and incorporating behavioral health into primary care.
“We have so many great programs and providers in our community. We just needed to get them to the providers; to increase that access,” said Hall, adding that in the two months since opening its doors, the center has already served more than 200 members of the community.
MHC board chairman Jim Davis related the difficulties he and his wife encountered 22 years ago when their eldest daughter was struggling with mental-health issues, commenting that they were floundering in their efforts to find the right diagnosis, physician and services for her.
“I’m very grateful for all the people and the resources that have gone into this being a reality,” said Davis. “It’s a fabulous thing to have in this community.”
“For those of us who have been around since the beginning of the collaborative, it is an absolute truth that the Mental Health Collaborative would not have continued to exist and the Connections Center would never have been created, if it were not for the philanthropic support that both individuals and organizations have provided over the years,” said Michael Kint, United Way IRC CEO.
In addition to mental health and substance abuse being a much harder “sell” than children’s initiatives or the arts, he said center does not provide billable services, rendering philanthropic support even more essential.
“The success of this operation will continue only as we rely on the philanthropic and community support that we’ve had and need to develop,” said Kint. “The good news is that many have already committed to supporting the outstanding work both of the collaborative and the Connections Center. I am absolutely confident that base of support is going to continue to grow as the positive impacts on the community of what happens here become known.”
He cited the famed Dr. Seuss quote from The Lorax: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Kint added, “It is going to get better here because we do care.”
