Advantage Health Centers of Detroit and Blue Cross Blue Shield have built a new heatlh care facility on the border of Warren and Detroit, part of a larger plan to treat substance abuse and mental illness among the uninsured and to improve the overall quality of life for the community.
The new Behavioral Health Space is located at 4669 East 8 Mile Road in Warren and with new staff and more room it expects to reach 30 percent more patients needing treatment for depression, substance abuse and other mental and behavioral health needs.
The development was supported with a $100,000 safety net grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Advantage Health Centers is a federally funded health care system that provides services to the uninsured and underinsured, including many homeless patients and military veterans.
It operates seven clinics, including dental care practices, in Detroit and in Warren. About 20,000 patients receive care for ailments that would go untreated or eventually waste emergency room time and space. Helping low-income people stay healthy gives them the ability to work and be productive, says executive director Joseph Ferguson, and benefits metro Detroit and Michigan as a whole.
Source: Daniel Zemke, Maria DaSilva and Joseph Ferguson, Advantage Health Centers
Writer: Kim North Shine
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