New Beginnings
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A new home for Abbe Center for Community Mental Health meets a growing need in our community
"This is a chance for us to raise the bar and provide even higher quality services. It's what our community needs."
Kathy Johnson
Executive Director
Abbe Center for Community Mental Health
Abbe Center for Community Mental Health is moving to a new home that welcomes patients and their families with more room, more services and more support to address a growing need in our community. The attractive environment is designed to uphold the dignity of individuals making the difficult decision to seek help, and is easily accessible whether you drive, walk or ride the bus.
Our new expanded campus will also enable Abbe to add staff and services to fulfill our requirements as one of the first Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) in Iowa. A CCBHC provides comprehensive, high-quality community-based mental health care for children, teens, adults and seniors. It’s a coordinated approach designed to get people the care they need, when they need it.
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Abbe Center for Community Mental Health
FAQ
What is the Abbe Center for Community Mental Health?
Abbe Center for Community Mental Health (Abbe Center) is a state and nationally accredited community mental health center serving individuals of all ages. Founded in 1949 and affiliated with UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids/St. Luke’s Hospital in 2017, Abbe Center is the largest community mental health center in Iowa. It’s also the first in the state to be designated as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC).
What makes Abbe Center unique?
Abbe Center is the only agency that is state-designated as a Community Mental Health Center. And in January 2024, Abbe Center was selected to partner with the Iowa Health and Human Services Department to implement a new federal model of care as the state’s first Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). Abbe Center received national accreditation as a CCBHC in May 2024.
What does a CCBHC do?
This new model of care is designed to reduce wait times for care, prevent individuals from falling out of needed treatment, and provide evidence-based services to ensure positive outcomes. By providing timely access to comprehensive and coordinated services, the Abbe Health CCBHC will promote health and wellness to support individuals living their best life.
What services does Abbe Center offer?
Abbe Center offers 24 different treatment options to meet the unique behavioral health needs of individuals throughout our community. These services include:
- Traditional clinic services such as psychiatry and therapy for behavioral health and substance use disorders
- Community-based options for in-home and residential services
- Specialized, evidenced-based services for adults with serious mental illness and children with a serious emotional disturbance
- Newly expanded line of crisis stabilization and emotional support services offered 24 hours /day.
Does Abbe Center provide primary medical care in addition to mental health services?
Studies show early identification and good management of mental illness, as well as prevention of general physical medical conditions can help reduce the risk of premature mortality in people with mental disorders.
In 2021, the Abbe Center added an Outpatient Primary Care Clinic including two physicians board certified in both Family Medicine and Psychiatry. In CY2022 and CY2023, the Abbe Medical Clinic provided 1,193 visits to 415 patients. Almost 100% of the clinic’s medical patients are referred from another Abbe mental health provider.
Who does Abbe Center serve?
Over the last 75 years, Abbe Center has grown both in size and in the range of services they provide. Today it is the state-designated mental health provider for Linn and surrounding counties. Abbe Center has 450 team members spread across 20 community locations.
Abbe Center accepts all individuals for treatment regardless of insurance coverage, income, protected class, severity of symptoms and complexity of needs. In 2022–2023, Abbe Center served more than 21,000 individuals in an eight-county region. Of these clients, 64% were served in Linn County.
Clients by Gender:
- Male: 4,775 (45%)
- Female: 5,722 (55%)
Clients by Age:
- Under 18: 1,549 (15%)
- 18 to 64: 7,984 (76%)
- 65+: 964 (9%)
Clients by Insurance Mix:
- Medicaid: 4,907 (47%)
- Commercial: 2,685 (26%)
- Medicare: 1,930 (18%)
- Uninsured/Self-Pay: 974 (9%)
New Beginnings Start Here Campaign
FAQ
Why does Abbe Center need a new location?
The current Abbe Center facility, known as the Filmore Center, was built in 1961. As demand for Abbe Center’s services has grown over the decades, the Filmore Center is no longer large enough to house all of its programs. As a result, Abbe Center has to lease multiple facilities and individuals may have to go to more than one location to access care.
What are the benefits of a new home for Abbe Center?
Abbe’s new home will:
- Consolidate clinic offices into one location for integrated care and cost savings. It also allows us to save more than $4 million in rent over the next 9 years.
- Create a welcoming environment to match the high-quality mental health and substance abuse treatment services provided.
- Provide a setting the promotes physical and emotional well-being, while fostering a sense of dignity, health, comfort and safety.
- Allow for the expansion of staff and services by providing additional treatment space. It is anticipated the new space will ultimately allow us to see 30% more individuals than are currently served.
Where is the new location?
Abbe Center’s new home is at 615 5th Avenue SE. Located within blocks of the MedQuarter, it provides visibility and placing us in the heart of our healthcare community. It’s also less than one mile from both Cedar Rapids hospitals and Physicians’ Clinic of Iowa..
When will the new Abbe Center location open?
The Grand Opening is scheduled for July 2025.
What Services will be provided at the new location?
Abbe Mental Health Center Clinic – Psychiatrists, therapists, medical support and substance abuse disorder counseling, recovery coaching and medication-assisted treatment.
Abbe Family Medicine Clinic – Primary physical health care clinic staffed by primary care physicians and mid-level providers.
Same Day Access (SDA) – More space will help us expand our SDA services. SDA allows individuals to choose the day and time that works best for them to walk in and have a mental health or substance use evaluation completed.
Crisis Intervention Services – Information/referral, counseling, crisis service coordination and links to crisis screening and mental health services.
Group Services – Psychiatric rehabilitation and day habilitation
Outreach Services – Including a special focus on homelessness through Projects for Assistance in
Transitions for Homelessness (PATH).
Wellness Recovery Center – Walk-in service for individuals who can benefit from a positive social opportunity with their peers, with an emphasis on building resilience and increase overall wellness.
Peer Support Services – Individuals who have been successful in the recovery process help others experiencing similar situations.
Headquarters for the 24/7 Warm Line – Free, confidential emotional support through the phone for individuals who are struggling and need someone to talk to any time of day or night.
What is the projected cost for the new location?
It cost $3.15 million to purchase the building. Planned interior renovations, exterior renovations, furnishings, security measures and parking enhancements will bring the total to $8 million. St. Luke’s Foundation is conducting a $4 million capital campaign to help underwrite these project costs.
Did you know?
Nearly 1 in 2 individuals will experience a need for behavioral health care in their lifetime.
We're here to help.
Well-Check for Mental Health
Contact your primary care provider to discuss your mental health and/or receive a referral to a mental health professional who specializes in the type of care you need.
To find a provider, visit https://www.unitypoint.org/providers.
Already have a provider? Visit the MyUnityPoint patient portal to send a message or schedule an appointment.
Same Day Access Services
Meet with a mental health professional during walk-in times at Abbe Community Mental Health Center for an assessment to develop a comprehensive care plan and schedule additional services.
For after-hours support, call the Iowa Warm Line at 1-844-775-9276. The Warm Line is a peer-run, telephone based, non-crisis and confidential listening line for anyone struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues. Calls are answered 24/7.
Emergency/Crisis Services
If you're experiencing a crisis and thinking about suicide, or are worried about a loved one, call 988 to be connected with a National Suicide Lifeline counselor or visit 988lifeline.org.
If the situation requires immediate medical attention (e.g., intentional overdose, self-harm injuries requiring medical attention), visit the St. Luke's Emergency Department or call 911.