Leader at Giotto Center’s Community Health and Behavioral Services talks about how the group helps those with mental, substance abuse issues and why the organization is consolidating its services
David L. Podos
Q: What is the Giotto Center?
A: This is our outpatient behavioral health care clinic serving individuals primarily in Oneida County, but certainly serving individuals outside of Oneida County as well. We work with people who are experiencing mental health concerns as well as substance abuse issues and concerns.
Q: This is a fairly new building you have. If I am correct, you had multiple clinic locations in Utica. Talk about this new building and why is it called the Giotto Center?
A: Sure. The Giotto family has been a supporter of United Cerebral Palsy for many years, [UCP has since been renamed as Upstate Caring Partners]. So, this building was just another way for the family to financially continue to support our mission and to have this wonderful building come to reality. We were previously operating out of three different locations in the Utica area before the Giotto Center was built. With three different locations, services became somewhat disjointed. So, the goal of this new building was to bring all of our services under one roof, one location.
Q: What are the main services that the center provides?
A: We work with people with various needs, primarily people with mental health issues and substance abuse issues. We also have case managers that work with our clients in relieving them of social determinants that can be blocking and or delaying their recovery, such as concerns with housing, or transportations issues for example. So, having the appropriate resources and tools in place is a big help in the recovery process.
Q: Your services are for both adults as well as children, is that correct?
A: Yes, while more than 75% of our clients are adults, we do serve children as well and that can be done right here at the Giotto Center, if needed. That being said, we also have several clinics set up at a number of school settings, we are actually in six different schools districts across Oneida and Herkimer counties; that is where the majority of children who we see receive help. These children may be struggling academically and need some guidance. There is also the outside of school issues they may be dealing with such as family issues, economic issues, stability in regards to housing, etc.
Q: In regards to the Giotto Center, how many staff do you have?
A: Here at the center, we have 55 staff and that is a combo of full-time as well as part-time staff.
Q: How are you funded?
A: We have both billable services and contractual billing services, as well as a number of grants. We also receive funding from New York State Department of Mental Health and we receive some federal funding.
Q: How does your intake process work?
A: Once we are contacted by someone who is seeking help for themselves and or a family member, we will ask a number of questions so we can assess for any current crisis needs. For example, we want to know if the person is at risk for self-injury and or are they suicidal. The initial contact may be over the phone and or from a walk-in. Once we have an initial assessment, we can then arrange for the most appropriate services that would address their specific needs. We have open access to the public to just come in with no appointment necessary, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. That would be for adults. For children, we have open access on Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. A pre-screening process will take place, they will also see a clinician to identify why they came in and depending on the need will be assigned a case manager.
n For more information, call 315-798-8868 or visit upstatecp.org.