Show All Answers

1. How can people access / use the Access Center?

Because the Mental Health Access Center receives funding from the East Central Mental Health Region, anyone who is 18 years of age or older and lives in the following counties can use the services of the Mental Health Access Center: Benton, Bremer, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, and Linn. Patients can be brought in via law enforcement or mobile crisis teams. Patients can also be brought in with loved ones or come on their own.

Exceptions include:

• Individuals in need of immediate medical care
• Individuals who are violent at arrival or immediately prior to arrival with a likelihood that they will seriously hurt themselves, other patients, or Access Center employees
• Minors 17 years old or younger

 Use of Mental Health Access Center services is 100 percent voluntary and the facility is not locked. 

2. Who can use the Access Center?

Because the Mental Health Access Center receives funding from the East Central Mental Health Region, anyone who is 18 years of age or older and lives in the following counties can use the services of the Mental Health Access Center: Benton, Bremer, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, and Linn. Patients can be brought in via law enforcement or mobile crisis teams. Patients can also be brought in with loved ones or come on their own.

Exceptions include:

• Individuals in need of immediate medical care
• Individuals who are violent at arrival or immediately prior to arrival with a likelihood that they will seriously hurt themselves, other patients, or Access Center employees
• Minors 17 years old or younger

 Use of Mental Health Access Center services is 100 percent voluntary and the facility is not locked.

3. What are the hours of the Mental Health Access Center?

The Linn County Mental Health Access Center is currently open for walk-ins (no appointment neccessary) Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

4. Where is the Mental Health Access Center located?

The Linn County Mental Health Access Center is located at 501 13^th St. NW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Walk-in hours are currently Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. No appointment is neccessary during that timeframe.

5. How do I pay for services?

Each individual provider will work with patients on payment for services. A variety of payment options, based on household income, are available for patients seeking help at the Mental Health Access Center.

6. What is it like to use the Mental Health Access Center?

Each patient that comes into our doors will first be seen by a member of Foundation 2's crisis team. This staff member will take basic vitals to make sure no physical medical conditions are present. After vitals, staff will discuss the reason for your visit as well as work through screening tools that help the staff better understand your needs and work towards a successful discharge. These screenings consist of suicide screening, brain injury screening, and basic mental health and substance use disorder screening. Once this process is complete, we will work with you to determine the best level of care. This could be continued work with Foundation 2 or a warm hand off to our other three providers in the building: Abbe Community Health, Penn Center, or Area Substance Abuse Council.     

7. Will anyone know if I received services?

No. All information that you give to us will be held strictly confidential. We cannot divulge any information without a signed release. To have any information shared you will need to complete a release of information form for us.

8. Will you help me with other resources I need?

The Mental Health Access Center is fortunate to have partnerships with many other organizations in the community that can help address other needs besides mental health and substance use disorder. Our first priority will be addressing the immediate needs of the patient, but we will also help patients connect to other resources in the community.  

9. Can I leave on my own?

Yes. Services at the Linn County Mental Health Access Center are 100 percent voluntary. It is not a locked facility and no services will be provided against the will of our patients.

10. Is there a limit to the number of times I can come?

No. Staff at the Linn County Mental Health Access Center understand that mental health and substance use disorder crises can occur throughout a person’s life. Therefore, there is no limit to the number of times an individual can use the services. Each time an individual uses the Mental Health Access Center, staff will address the primary presenting issue and work with the patient for the best plan of action regardless of whether the patient has used the services at a previous time.

11. Why do you take vitals during triage?

Although this may seem like an odd piece of information to collect at a Mental Health Access Center, it is important for staff to assess all aspects of the patient’s well-being and that includes a few physical health assessments. Vitals may not be taken immediately if other assessments are critical to complete at the time. Vitals are also important to our higher-level services such as medical detox and crisis observation. Once a patient is admitted to those services, vitals are taken by nursing staff on an ongoing basis.

12. Can my family or friends visit?

Support systems for those addressing Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder crises is vitally important and in normal circumstances we encourage any loved ones or friends to accompany a patient to the Access Center and stay with the patient while they are in our care. However, due to COVID-19 safety protocols, patients can have one support person accompany them into the Access Center during triage and non-overnight stays. If a patient needs to stay overnight, staff will provide ways to keep patients connected to support systems  via phone calls, FaceTime, or other online means.

13. What COVID-19 protocols are in place?

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many of the ways we function within medical settings. The Mental Health Access Center also has had to adjust policies and procedures to keep both patients and staff safe. The following COVID-19 safety protocols are in place at the Mental Health Access Center:

• All staff and patients will have temperatures taken upon entry as well as complete the COVID-19 health questionnaire approved by Linn County Public Health.    
• Face masks must be worn at all times while a patient and support member are in the Mental Health Access Center waiting room, triage rooms, counseling offices, crisis observation area, day room area, and restrooms. Masks do NOT need to be worn when in individual bedrooms unless staff or other patients enter. The Mental Health Access Center will provide masks to those who do not have one when entering the building.
• Waiting room area will be cleaned and sanitized multiple times each day. 
• All triage rooms will be cleaned and sanitized after each patient has departed.   
• All bedrooms will be cleaned and sanitized after discharge of patient.
• Staff will try to maintain 6 feet of space when capable.
• At this time, we ask that only one support person comes with each patient into the Mental Health Access Center. If a patient needs to stay with us overnight or for a few days, we will do our best to keep each patient connected to support members via phone calls, FaceTime, or other online means.  
• Signage will be posted throughout the Access Center with COVID-19 precautions.