MIAMI—May 1, 2024—New Horizons Community Mental Health Center, Inc. has launched a “Living Room” program to serve the mental health needs of people in Miami-Dade County which coincides with the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month. This  new model will be the first of its kind in South Florida.  The 50-year-old agency is excited to offer this new line of service.

The Living Room model is a community crisis respite program  that offers people experiencing a mild mental health crisis an alternative to hospitalization. Individuals can receive services at the Living Room for up to 23 hours.  When people experience a mental health crisis, they are faced with the decision to go to the emergency department or to try to manage the crisis themselves.  This provides an option of services in the crisis continuum.

“Crisis respite programs like The Living Room provide a vital safety net for individuals in distress, offering a temporary haven where they can stabilize, find support, and begin to heal by others who have a lived experience. Such programs are essential because they not only address immediate needs but also foster resilience and self-sufficiency in our communities, making them stronger and healthier for everyone.”, said Michele Wyatt-Sweeting, New Horizons Chief Executive Officer.

Services that will be offered to  Living Room guests include:  screening, assessment, crisis intervention; a safe place to relax and rest; peer counselor support; professional counselor to provide de-escalation and coping skills and a safety plan; linkage and referrals to other community and mental health services; medication management; monitoring; identification of and referrals to community resources; mental wellness support list services that will be offered and how people can access services.  There is no requirement for referrals, all adults meeting the Living Room criteria are eligible.

“The Living Room Model is an evidence-based program that will provide much needed innovative services to our community. New Horizons is one of our long-time network service providers offering this brand-new service to our area,” said John W. Newcomer, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Thriving Mind South Florida, the managing entity for Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.

The Living Room Model is funded through Thriving Mind and the State of Florida, Department of Children and Families.

For more information on services offered by New Horizons, go to their website.

More photos from the event are here.