Signature Health to Reopen Cleveland Residential Treatment Facility to Care for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder
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ORCA House to Expand Services at New Location; Supported by ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County & OhioMHAS American Rescue Plan Act Funding
April 18, 2024 — Signature Health announces the reopening of ORCA House in Northeast Ohio as a pivotal enhancement to the region's mental health and addiction services. The facility, now housed in a newly renovated, 24,000-square-foot space at the intersection of Prospect and E. 30th in Cleveland, features 36 beds and expects to begin accepting referrals the week of April 29. This expansion is made possible through funding support from Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and the Alcohol, Drug Addiction & Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County.
With 16 beds dedicated to adults with serious mental illness, the mental health treatment floor will offer step-down care for patients discharged from inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, as well as step-up care for individuals not needing hospitalization but requiring monitored residential treatment. Services include behavioral health assessments, case management, peer support, psychiatry, nursing, and individual and group counseling with an emphasis on Mental Health Day Treatment groups.
“We are well-positioned at ORCA House to welcome residents into a warm, structured environment that feels like home. Our approach centers on stabilizing symptoms, promoting individual growth and development, and supporting successful transition back into the community,” said Jonathan Lee, CE0 of Signature Health. “Strong collaboration with our funders and other partners has made this new community resource possible, to offer hope and the right level of compassionate care to individuals facing significant mental health and addiction challenges.”
Scott Osiecki, CEO of the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County said, “I am grateful that Signature Health stepped-up to increase access to transitional residential treatment as part of our safety net that will assist in combating suicide and preventing re-hospitalizations. I am also thankful to OhioMHAS for providing the resources to establish this step-down/step-up facility in our community.”
The facility also anticipates the future opening of a 20-bed unit aimed at treating individuals with opioid use disorder or alcohol use disorder, with an emphasis on intensive group therapy and medication-assisted treatment (MAT). This unit also will provide ongoing medical care for residents discharged from the hospital who have co-occurring substance use disorder and endocarditis, which is a potentially fatal inflammation of the heart valves.
“Creating access for ORCA residents to receive high-quality treatment for both opioid use disorder and endocarditis in the same care facility represents a pioneering approach to integrated care that was identified by our local hospital systems and payers as a need in our community,” said Lee. “We have been fortunate to collaborate with CareSource on a care and reimbursement model aimed at reducing future hospitalizations and total cost of care.”
"Access to evidenced based treatment for Opioid Use Disorder, including medication assisted treatment, while receiving intravenous antibiotics for infective endocarditis is essential,” said Dr. Mark Reynolds, CareSource Enterprise Medical Director, Care Management. “CareSource is excited to work with Signature Health in bringing this innovative initiative to Northeast Ohio."
With deep roots in Cleveland since 1942, ORCA House is one of the oldest African American-founded centers for substance use disorder in the country. It became part of Signature Health in 2018, and ORCA’s former location on E. 89th Street closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and need for renovation.
In addition to over $1 million in ARPA and ADAMHS Board funding, additional support for ORCA House was provided by the Cleveland Foundation and two of its affiliated funds, the Higley Fund and the Thatcher Family Fund.
The average length of stay at ORCA House is expected to be 30 to 90 days, with around-the-clock coverage from nurses and residential care specialists. For more information on referring to ORCA House, visit https://www.signaturehealthinc.org/locations/residential-facilities/orca-house/
April 19 Ribbon-Cutting Invitation
Members of the media are invited to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony:
Friday, April 19, 2024, 11:30am-2pm
Remarks/ribbon-cutting at noon
ORCA House, 3001 Prospect Ave. E., Cleveland, OH
To RSVP, please contact Allie Morana at 440-487-0584 or amorana@shinc.org. B-roll footage, sound bytes and photos will be available following the event.
About Signature Health
Founded in 1993, Signature Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that wants people to realize their highest potential. Through mental health, addiction recovery, primary care, dental and infectious disease services for patients of all ages, Signature Health serves more than 32,000 individuals annually at seven outpatient and four residential locations in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga and Lake counties. Committed to becoming the most respected integrated behavioral health organization in the country, Signature Health increases access to care through telehealth, walk-in and evening hours, transportation support, on-site laboratories, and on-site pharmacies with free mailing and delivery options. For more information, visit SignatureHealth.org or call 440-578-8200.
About ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County
The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County is responsible for the planning, funding and monitoring of public mental health and addiction treatment and recovery services delivered to the residents of Cuyahoga County. Under Ohio law, the ADAMHS Board is one of 50 Boards coordinating the public mental health and addiction treatment and recovery system in Ohio. The Board is a quasi-independent part of county government, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Board contracts with provider agencies to deliver services that assist clients on the road to recovery.
Media Contacts
Signature Health
Allie Morana, 440-487-0584
ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County
Clare Rosser, 216-316-5759