The three major mental health service centers in the greater Peoria region are creating a new organization aiming at bringing new resources to bare on behavioral healthcare.
Unity Point Methodist, Human Service Center and Tazwood Center for Wellness are creating a new organization called UnityPlace.
Each organization has worked tirelessly to serve the mental and behavioral health needs of region since the closure of Zeller Mental Health Center more than 16 years ago.
Martha Herm is the chairperson of the new organization’s board of directors. She says they are looking for ways to offer expand and make easier access to behavioral health care:
“So perhaps our new mission statement might be something like, ‘helping people live their lives well with in a healthy community. So there are kind of a two prongs to that, the individual and the community," says Herm.
Herm says the three separate agencies will continue daily operations until UnityPlace gets up and running.
Peter Johnsen is the on the UnityPoint Methodist, Proctor Pekin Board and is one of the new UnityPlace Board Members:
“UnityPlace is dedicated to bringing about a coordinated, integrated and comprehensive model of behavioral health within our community at large. We are proud to be part of such an exciting and innovative approach to improving the health and quality of all lives within our region,” says Johnsen.
UnityPoint Regional CEO Debbie Simon is retiring this summer and is named Interim President of UnityPlace. The board of the new organization is made up of three members from each agency.