Health Resources of Arkansas Inc. has received a permit to operate a 15-bed substance abuse treatment center for adolescents in southwest Little Rock.
The nonprofit plans to make the 10-acre site at 9219 Sibley Hole Road the fourth facility in the state to offer inpatient substance abuse treatment to adolescents.
Most patients are court-ordered to attend substance abuse treatment, or come from the foster care system, nonprofit representative Robin Raveendran said. Treatment sessions generally last 30 days.
Health Resources of Arkansas is a division of Preferred Family Healthcare, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides services for mental health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities and other problems in Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois and Arkansas.
The organization contracts with the state's Department of Human Services to provide services in Arkansas.
There are currently 62 beds for inpatient adolescent substance abuse treatment at three facilities in the state, said Brandi Hinkle, deputy chief of communications for the Department of Human Services. The other facilities are located in Hot Springs, Fort Smith and Bentonville.
The state contracts with eight community mental-health centers throughout Arkansas to provide outpatient substance abuse treatment services to adolescents, Hinkle said. Outpatient services can include individual, group and family therapy sessions.
Under the terms of a block grant awarded to the eight state-funded providers in January, centers that provide outpatient substance abuse treatment to adolescents must also provide inpatient treatment if necessary, Hinkle said. If the centers do not have inpatient capacity, they must contract out for the services, she said.
Raveendran said the organization does not have the inpatient capacity for adolescents and has in the past contracted out services for youths. Its current plans are to begin operations at the new facility by the end of October or beginning of November, he said.
The nonprofit has spent about $100,000 to meet requirements of the Child Welfare Agency Review Board for housing young people, he said. They include adding a new fire alarm system, beds, mattresses, dressers and desks, and remodeling to create separate living areas for boys and girls.
Health Resources of Arkansas has signed a three-year lease on the property with the Baptist Missionary Association of America at a cost of $6,500 to $7,000 a month.
State Rep. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, attended a presentation given by Raveendran and said she supports the center.
"It fills a real need that we have for adolescents," Elliott said. "I think this will go a long way, especially in a metropolitan area the size of Little Rock."
Metro on 10/16/2016