Howard County commissioners recommend 4C to state as next community mental health center

The Howard County commissioners voted unanimously to recommend 4C to the Indiana State Division of Mental Health and Addictions (DMHA) as the county's next designated Community Mental Health Center, after a lengthy presentation and question‑and‑answer session about local behavioral health services and capacity.

The 4C presenter told commissioners the organization already provides a broad continuum of care in the region, including outpatient therapy, psychiatric medication clinics, school‑based services, mobile crisis teams and assertive community treatment teams. The presenter said 4C currently has about 83 staff stationed in Howard County and has served thousands of county residents over recent years, and that designation would allow the organization to accept transfers of adults with serious mental illness who need community support that a CMHC provides.

Lisa Willis Gidley, who has worked with 4C since 2015, described expansion of school and community contracts and said anyone can walk into the Howard County office and begin services the same day.

Commissioners asked how inpatient and crisis care would be handled if 4C were designated. The presenter said 4C operates mobile crisis teams and can deploy staff to emergency departments; the organization also uses crisis stabilization units and triage beds in neighboring facilities to avoid inpatient hospitalizations when possible.

The presenter also described one remaining gap: group homes. As a certified community behavioral health center (CCBHC), 4C is not required to operate group homes, but as a CMHC group homes are a required part of the continuum. The presenter said 4C would start due diligence on property and housing options but warned purchases would need to be priced reasonably for a nonprofit operator.

Following discussion, a commissioner moved to recommend 4C to DMHA; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The presenter said she would connect county staff with DMHA contacts and begin due diligence, and that state review and community processes would likely take 12–18 months before operations and any staffing increases were fully implemented.

Next steps: the board's recommendation will be transmitted to DMHA, which will lead designation decisions and any subsequent requirements. The presenter said she would return with further updates after initial contacts with DMHA and local partners.