As an extra layer of support for people in the community seeking help, hope and healing from the Crisis Center, we offer Care Coordination. Clients who seek assistance from the Crisis Center are struggling with traumas, including sexual or physical abuse/assault, domestic violence, and battery. Our Care Coordinators assist these clients by providing emotional support, advocacy, and service linkages ranging from mental health counseling to financial resources.
Additional funding from the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners has allowed us to extend these services to include youth. These clients come to us when they call the Gateway Contact Center Suicide Prevention Line, or when a school or social worker makes a referral. The Care Coordinator will then have multiple conversations with the teen to understand their struggles, provide immediate emotional support, and connect them to the help they need.
In working with teens, we stress to them that making a plan to better their mental health is a conversation; we are not there to tell them what to do. While they might not yet legally be adults, they’re dealing with very adult feelings and deserve to be respected and treated as an equal. Our staff will also help guide the teens through having an open conversation with their parent or guardian so we can make sure they are receiving the necessary ongoing care and support that they need.
Currently there is one Care Coordinator working with teens, but we are in the process of hiring a second dedicated staff member who will work extended hours to be available in the evenings. We are excited to see the program grow as we continue to expand our relationships with community schools and open up further conversations with teens on mental health.
