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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY NONPROFIT / QUASI AGENCY REQUEST FOR FUNDING B. Organization Capability (Continued) 4. How does your program differ from similar ones provided in the community? How do the programs com lement those offered by other agencies!, We differ from any other community programs as being the only agency giving immediate access to walk-in outpatient mental health and crisis intervention services. Also, none offer open access to free care to IRC residents in need or ongoing mental health services to IRC youth, veterans or first responders in need who are lacking access to treatment. W ICC gives mental health care and support for the most vulnerable living in our community, putting those struggling on the road to recovery and improved functioning sooner rather than later. Existing programs base care provision on provider availability and on insurance status of the person seeking care. Lack of access to consistent, quality care is a barrier for positive functioning for IRC residents and can leave their emotional and behavioral health concerns unaddressed. From our work with residents since 2007 we know, at times, even when individuals are linked to an area provider for needed mental health care, there can be a wait for months following intake to be assigned a provider to assist them due to waitlists or staff vacancies. Also, even once assigned, community members report experiencing problems in scheduling for services at the frequency needed (such as only having the ability to see a therapist once a month when weekly counseling is needed), disruption of services, or inability to make treatment gains due to their assigned provider leaving. The W ICC program serves indigent and in -crisis residents immediately without a wait list due to our ongoing commitment to provide access to mental health care without barriers. MHA's continuum of care services to IRC residents in need includes free mental health screening and crisis intervention services and affordable ongoing (by appointment) mental health services for low- income and uninsured individuals. IRC's largest health problems, per the latest county needs assessment, are mental health and lack of access to necessary care. Our immediate access to mental health professionals meets an essential community need. We provide mental health care and support for the most vulnerable living in our community and put them on the road to recovery and improved functioning. We work collaboratively without duplication of services with a variety of community providers including the McCabe Connections Center, New Horizons of the Treasure Coast, Substance Awareness Center, Phoenix Rising, Treasure Coast Community Health, Whole Family Health Center, Visiting Nurse Association, Legacy, Sequel Care, Vocational Rehabilitation, University of Florida Center for Psychiatry and Addictions, United Against Poverty and local medical providers, referring to and accepting referrals from them to meet individual needs of those without needed help. Our quality treatment for all ages provides evidenced -based, best practices mental health services to treat a variety of mental health concerns across the lifespan and fills care gaps within the community. WICC services help to save the lives of residents contemplating suicide and to ensure help for those suffering from emotional and behavioral concerns. The improved functioning of individual residents positively impacts the Indian River County community. 119