The Family Health Center provided an update to the Knox County Commissioners, highlighting their impact over the past fiscal year.  The Center is Knox County’s state designated mental healthcare facility.

From July 2023 to June 2024, the center served 4,356 mental health patients, including 3362 adults and 279 youth, with nearly 24,000 professional encounters recorded.

CEO Jennifer Evans emphasized efforts to improve access, aiming for same-day services for emergencies and better routine care availability. Key concerns include limited youth services and substance abuse treatment, with cannabis being the most common issue among young patients.

Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Michael Drake outlined progress on crisis services, including a 24/7 crisis hotline and mobile response teams. The Green Door Center renovations will soon add a stabilization unit for adults and, later, a facility for children and families. These resources aim to reduce reliance on hospitals or incarceration for those in crisis.

A marketing campaign is planned to increase community awareness of these services.