12
Feb
2016
Expansion will enable Tanager Place to provide services for twice as many children in need of mental health services in Eastern Iowa
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa—Tanager Place kicked off the public phase of its $6.5 million Soaring Beyond capital campaign this evening. The campaign will fund improvements and expansion of its Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, providing more space for children in need of mental health services. The organization announced that $5,314,465 has been raised to date, with a lead gift coming from The Hall-Perrine Foundation.
Tanager Place has been lifting up children and families dealing with mental illness since 1879. The first step of receiving help has allowed children to rise above challenges for over a century. The capital campaign, “Soaring Beyond,” will fund the building purchase and renovations at 1030 Fifth Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids for the Tanager Place Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, which provided mental health services to over 2,000 children in eastern Iowa last year alone.
“Mental illness impacts one in five children and it is treatable,” said campaign co-chair Lisa McGrath. “Some may feel that there are other community services out there competing with us. Only Tanager Place can offer child assessment, diagnosis, treatment, diverse therapy options, as well as family advocacy and support. This comprehensive approach sets us apart and makes us the only viable option for many families.”
"We were fortunate to locate a building in the MedQuarter that met our expansion needs to provide greater access to the collaborating medical community and to give access to other integrated care providers,” said campaign co-chair Duane Smith. “Tanager Place serves more than 5,000 children annually through all its programs, but the need for services far exceeded our capacity – since we opened we’ve been able to schedule 3,658 additional appointments.”
Tanager Place’s Outpatient Mental Health Clinic serves the increasing need for mental health services. In fiscal year 2014, the organization served 1,800 children; in fiscal year 2015, 2,074 received services. Fiscal year 2016 looks to exceed 3,600.
In Linn and the contiguous counties, there has been a 69 percent increase in children’s mental health issues in the last five years. On average, 150 new referrals are received monthly at the Tanager Place outpatient clinic. This demand far exceeded previously available space. It meant families were waiting for their child to receive mental health services. Sometimes this meant Eastern Iowa families had to seek out-of-state mental health support for their children. This delay in service severely impacted the progress and increased trauma for children suffering from mental health issues, according to Tanager Place CEO Okpara Rice. “Along with our space, we have expanded our diverse team of professionals, including child psychiatrists, pediatric nurse practitioners and specialized therapists, who are all committed to helping these kids,” Rice said.
“These are real people with huge issues that we can treat. It’s just a matter of having the space,” said George Estle, member of the Tanager Place executive counsel. “What a wait list means to parents who are calling is pain. Being able to access care means hope. It means life can get better sooner.”
For more information, or to make a donation to the Soaring Beyond capital campaign, please call 319-365-9164 or visit www.TanagerPlace.org.
Photo caption: Stacie Mitchell, Tanager Place clinic supervisor and therapist, and Derek Severson, are petting Ellary. Mitchell and Ellary are a certified pet partner therapy team and are currently working on achieving an Animal Assisted Play Therapy credential.
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