Durham care center gets bigger space

Mental facility has room to grow

DURHAM -- Mental health gains some elbow room in Durham County next week, as a once-abandoned rehabilitation facility reopens as a crisis-care and referral center.

Durham Center Access, the county's service for people in need of immediate care for mental health, developmental disability or substance abuse, is moving into the former Oakleigh Treatment Center near Durham Regional Hospital.

Since 2004, Durham Center Access has operated in a 15,000-square foot, 12-bed suite at Central Medical Park. With the move, it adds four beds, 11,000 square feet and room to grow.

"It gives us more capacity, for starters," said Doug Wright, past board chairman of the Durham Center, the county department that manages mental-health and disability services. "It gives us a facility of much higher quality. It gives us office space we need, space to run outpatient programs."

Durham Center Access director James Osborn said the existing space has been, typically, 90 percent full of "consumers" -- the currently preferred term -- getting emergency stabilization and detoxification.

"It's another option than emergency rooms," said Jenny Scepanski of Freedom House Recovery Center, a private agency that operates Durham Center Access under contract with Durham County.

The new building has lockdown capability, meaning that Durham Center Access can serve involuntary commitments as well as people seeking treatment on their own.

Part of Durham Center Access's job is to keep Durham County consumers close to home and out of state-run hospitals, Osborn said.

"It's good for consumers for reasons of continuity," he said. Treated locally, clients can maintain their own social connections and develop personal connections with professionals who provide their service.

Oakleigh, which closed in 2001, offered long-term drug and alcohol rehabilitation in programs of up to 28 days' duration. Durham Center Access houses its consumers only "as long as medically necessary" -- typically about 4 1/2 days -- but they leave with "a solid discharge plan," Osborn said.

Durham Center Access will hold a ceremonial dedication at 11 a.m. Monday, Osborn said, and will go to work Tuesday at 809 Crutchfield St.