Safe Haven Advisory Board Meeting

Monday, March 11, 2024
Time: 11 am

Location:
Safe Haven Training and Education Center
23577 Martin Way Mandeville 70448

I. Meeting called to order
II. Roll call
III. Approval of minutes
IV. Introduction of New Board members
V. Safe Haven Operational Funding
VI. Safe Haven Projects Update
VII. Safe Haven Committees
VIII. Other business
IX. Our Next meeting will be on June 10th at 11am

Safe Haven Advisory Board Meeting

Monday, September 11th
Time: 11 am
 

Location:
Safe Haven Training and Education Center
23577 Martin Way Mandeville 70448

I. Meeting called to order
II. Roll call
III. Approval of minutes
IV. Safe Haven Project Report
V. Safe Haven Update
VI. Safe Haven Committees
VII. Other Business
VIII. Our Next Meeting will be on December 11th at 11am

Safe Haven Advisory Board Meeting

Monday, December 12th
Time: 11 am
 

Location:
Safe Haven Training and Education Center
23577 Martin Way Mandeville 70448

I. Meeting called to order
II. Roll call
III. Approval of minutes
IV. Board Membership
V. CRC Update
VI. MCL Works Presentation
VII. Safe Haven Project Report
VIII. Safe Haven Committees
IX. Other business
X. Meeting adjourned
XI. Our Next meeting will be on March 13th at 11am

Safe Haven Advisory Board Meeting

Monday September 12th
11 A.M.

Location:
Staff Conference Room
(Parish Government Koop Campus, Building B, Third Floor))

I. Meeting called to order
II. Roll call
III. Approval of minutes
IV. Safe Haven Project Report
V. Safe Haven CRC
VI. Safe Haven Committees
VII. Other business
VIII. Meeting adjourned
IX. Our Next meeting will be on December 12th at 11am

The need for mental health services in St. Tammany Parish remains substantial. Not only has the statistics confirmed the need for assistance, but more importantly, our loved ones and neighbors continue to struggle.

In October 2021, the Safe Haven Crisis Receiving Center (CRC) officially opened its doors. The CRC, which is designed to provide identification, intervention and stabilization for those in a behavioral health crisis, is the first step towards recovery for our loved ones battling a crisis.

The CRC gives healthcare professionals, law enforcement and families an alternative to the emergency room or jail during a behavioral health crisis.

Start Corporation, who has operated the CRC since its inception, is no longer serving as the operator. At this time, the CRC is temporarily not accepting patients.

In 2021 alone, nearly 5,000 St. Tammany Parish citizens withstood a mental health crisis. 45 loved ones died from suicide. These numbers illustrate the continued need for a CRC within our Parish.

Though we are disappointed Start Corporation will no longer operate the CRC, we will continue working with our partners to identify improvements to our behavioral health system and we look forward to a new beginning.

While we are working through this transitional period with the CRC, the rest of the Safe Haven Campus will remain open and operational.  In 2021 approximately 5,830 individuals accessed services on the St. Tammany Campus.  Other service providers on the campus include: Florida Parishes Human Services Authority, NAMI St. Tammany and the St. Tammany Parish Public School System.

In the coming days, St. Tammany Parish Government will begin the process to seek out a new operator for the Crisis Receiving Center. We are expecting an expeditious process and look forward to making progress with our new operating partner, which will ultimately save lives in St. Tammany Parish.
 

Sincerely,

MICHAEL B. COOPER

Parish President

Safe Haven Advisory Board Meeting

Monday, June 13th  
11 A.M.

Location:
Staff Conference Room
(Parish Government Koop Campus, Building B, Third Floor))

1. Meeting called to order
2. Roll call
3. Approval of minutes
4. Presentation by Franklin Kyle and Associates – LA Safe design update
5. Safe Haven Project Report  
6. Safe Haven CRC
7. Safe Haven Committees
8. Other business
9. Meeting adjourned
10. Our Next meeting will be on September 12^th at 11am  

Safe Haven Advisory Board Meeting

Monday, March 14th
11 A.M.

Location:
Staff Conference Room
(Parish Government Koop Campus, Building B, Third Floor))

I. Meeting called to order
II. Roll call
III. Approval of minutes
IV. Election of Chairman
V. Election of Secretary
VI. Role of Advisory Board
VII. Safe Haven Project Report
VIII. Safe Haven Committee Updates
IX. Other business
X. Meeting adjourned
XI. Our Next meeting will be on June 13th at 11am

Safe Haven Advisory Board Meeting

Monday September 20th
11am

Location:
Staff Conference Room (Parish Government Koop Campus)
-or-
Audio/Visual (Zoom)
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81978431527?pwd=bVZBYzk1TmhVdGk2bzc5SEJLZlhrQT09
Meeting ID: 819 7843 1527 Passcode: RT4Zz3
-or-
Audio (Zoom)
(346) 248-7799
Meeting ID: 819 7843 1527 Passcode: 176554

I. Meeting called to order
II. Roll call
III. Approval of minutes
IV. Safe Haven Updates
V. Safe Haven Committee Discussion
VI. Other business
VII. Meeting adjourned
VIII. Our Next meeting will be on December 13th at 11am

Safe Haven Advisory Board Meeting

Monday June 14th
11am

This meeting will take place via Zoom.
Audio/Visual
www.zoom.us
Meeting ID: 934 4554 8781 Passcode: eFAsH1

Audio
Phone number: 1-346-248-7799

Meeting ID: 934 4554 8781 Passcode: 539851

I. Meeting called to order
II. Roll call
III. Approval of minutes
IV. Safe Haven Updates
V. Safe Haven Committee Discussion
VI. Other business
VII. Meeting adjourned
VIII. Our Next meeting will be on September 13th at 11am

A ceremonial groundbreaking for the Training and Education Center at the Safe Haven Campus was held Friday, May 21, 2021.  In attendance was Governor John Bel Edwards, Archbishop Gregory Aymond, Parish President Mike Cooper, Safe Haven Foundation Chairman Jack Donahue and other state and local elected officials and community leaders.

The purpose of the Safe Haven Training and Education Center, which is estimated to cost $850,000.00, is to destigmatize behavioral health, as well as provide a state-of- the-art meeting and conference space. The training opportunities will help the community to better understand behavioral health issues. Additionally, the facility will raise awareness and build a community of hope for those living with behavioral health illnesses, their family, friends, and those working in the behavioral field.

President Cooper began the ceremony with his opening remarks, noting that earlier in the month he gave a proclamation declaring May 2021 as Mental Health Awareness Month throughout St. Tammany Parish.

“Our goal is to increase our citizenry’s understanding of mental health and to promote treatment and knowledge within our community,” said President Cooper.  “The Safe Haven Training and Education Center will serve as a central location for our healthcare workers, peer support, and family support to come and learn, and to destigmatize mental health.”

The National Alliance on Mental Illness St. Tammany is also expected to utilize the Training and Education Center through approximately 120 meetings annually, serving more than 550 people. The anticipated trainings include, but are not limited to NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group, NAMI Family Support Group, Family-to-Family meetings, Peer-to-Peer sessions and Mental Health First Aid.

“Today we ask Your blessings on this project of Safe Haven, which will train people to offer healing of mind, body and spirit,” said Archbishop Gregory Aymond during the invocation.

“We need a Safe Haven more now than ever before,” said Governor Edwards.  “The pandemic has challenged us in a lot of ways, but mental health needs have been particularly acute during the pandemic.  This center is going to serve as a Training facility that will help the community to better understand behavioral health issues, and also foster a community of hope.”

The Center is the first new construction on the Safe Haven Campus since the 1970’s.  President Cooper’s Administration plans to continue expansion on the campus, “in order to grow with the community’s needs.”

“Safe Haven Is our beacon of light for all of our community,” commented Safe Haven Foundation Board Chairman Jack Donahue.

President Cooper then took the time to thank the 22^nd Judicial Court, Sherriff’s Office, Coroner’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Ochsner, St. Tammany Health System, Slidell Memorial, NAMI St. Tammany, and Florida Parishes Human Services Authority for their participation on the project.

The Safe Haven Training and Education Center is scheduled to be completed in the Winter of 2022.  The Safe Haven mission is to “provide a collaborative healing environment for the behavioral health continuum by creating a high-quality, coordinated, sustainable and humane network of care anchored in St. Tammany Parish.”

For more information about the Safe Haven Campus, please visit www.safehavenstp.org