DAVENPORT, IOWA (May 16, 2019) — Vera French Community Mental Health Center is pleased to invite the community to a grand-opening, rededication, and open-house for the Carol Center featuring the all-new Peer Support and Drop-In Center on Thursday, May 23, beginning at 10AM with a ribbon-cutting followed by an open-house, building-tours, and light-refreshments.
In May 2013, over 100 people gathered to dedicate “The Carol Center” at 423 E 32nd St, named to celebrate and honor the life of Carol Lujack who passed away in 2002. During her life, Carol embraced the services of the “Frontier Community Outreach Program” started by the Vera French Center in 1986 in downtown Davenport. The Frontier program moved to 423 East 32nd Street in Davenport in 2013. Knowing the new building was a place Carol would have loved, the Lujack family graciously allowed Frontier to be dedicated “The Carol Center”.
The Carol Center provides a safe and supportive place for individuals with mental illness. Participants have the opportunity to learn new skills, develop friendships, share meals, and benefit from the support and guidance of caring staff. Services offered at the Carol Center include:
- Community Support Services
- Community Based Peer Support Services
- Homeless Outreach
- Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation
- Medication Management
- Peer Support Drop-In Services (NEW TO THE CAROL CENTER)
An important new feature of the Carol Center in this new location will be the Drop-In Center. Drop-In Services connect individuals to care-coordination services. Peer supports provide crisis-resolution, self-help, advocacy, housing-assistance, education, and socialization. They will also refer to psychiatric and nursing-care as needed. All of this is done without an appointment in a low-pressure environment designed to help the individual in any way they need.
Richard K Whitaker Jr, PhD, Vera French CEO, stated that “the addition of Peer Support Drop-In Services and change of location for the Carol Center increases our accessibility and gives people in crisis another way to get help and start their recovery on their own terms.” Whitaker also explained that “a project like this could not be completed without the support of both the Eastern Iowa Mental Health and Disability Region and Scott County as well as the hard work of Russell Construction to renovate the space to fit the needs of this unique program.”
