Catholic Charities of Buffalo dedicated its new behavioral health clinic at Heritage Square, 81 Walnut St., on Friday.
The new location is a vast improvement over the clinic’s previous space in the Bewley Building, for both clients and staff, according to Justin Fax, practice director of Catholic Charities Behavioral Health. It’s larger, closer to the city center, and more accessible to clients coming in on foot, via public transportation or with mobility challenges; the increased space allowed for the creation of a secure reception area, and assessment and treatment areas that better ensure clients’ privacy.
“Our behavioral health services continue to grow in Lockport, and this move was needed for not only more space, but also to provide more flexibility when it comes to our hours of operation and accommodating our clients’ schedules,” Fax said.
The clinic was relocated from the Bewley Building, where it had been located since 2004, in late November and has operated at Heritage Square while finishing touches are added.
The clinic is one of five behavioral health clinics operated by Catholic Charities of Buffalo. In Niagara County, between the Lockport and Niagara Falls clinics, more than 1,000 residents are served, about 600 of them here, Fax said.
Staffed by 17 providers and assistants, the Lockport Behavioral Health clinic offers outpatient mental health evaluation and various treatments including psychotherapy for children (age 3 and older), adults, parents, couples and families.
A new treatment program made possible with relocation to more spacious quarters is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, in which trained clinicians work with parents to modify a young child’s disruptive behaviors. The PCIT suite includes a time-out area for children and an observation room for clinicians, according to Laurie Bragg, manager of administration.
Although it’s a healthcare provider, Catholic Charities Behavioral Health depends on “significant” funding through the annual Appeal, said Chuck Hayes, chief communications and development officer. Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements are well below the cost of care services provided, he noted.
For more information about Catholic Charities Behavioral Health services, visit ccwny.org/mental-wellness/ or call 1-877-448-4466.