New Horizons has new look

Nonprofit showcases improvements at outdoor open house

Posted 12/8/21

New Horizons office gets makeover.

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New Horizons has new look

Nonprofit showcases improvements at outdoor open house

Posted

OKEECHOBEE — The road to mental health can be pretty rough, but there are myriad ways to restore dignity into people’s lives along the journey. The beautification project at New Horizons Okeechobee Outpatient Office is a gesture by individuals and organizations showing they care about people who are striving to improve their quality of life and the whole community.

At a late afternoon open house in October, complete with ribbon cutting by the Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce and attendance by local dignitaries, business leaders and community advocates, New Horizons held a grand re-opening on the clinic parking lot at 1600 S.W. Second Ave. The event aimed to showcase recent renovations, educate the public about services and thank local donors.

Assisted by a grant from the Altobello Family Donor Advised Fund, New Horizons has transformed the exterior of the building with new siding, a roof and signage. The Luviano Roofing Company purchased trees and shrubs, which they helped plant, and volunteers from Christ Fellowship Saturday Service group contributed labor and mulch.

“We would not be able to afford any of this if not for the generosity of our neighbors here in Okeechobee,” said Debbie Clemons, a board director for New Horizons.

Mrs. Clemons and her husband Jeff Clemons, co-owner of the Okeechobee Livestock Market, helped landscape the property and purchased a memorial bench now gracing the entrance of the clinic. A second bench was dedicated by Luviano Roofing.

New Horizons is the largest mental health and addiction recovery provider in the four-county region, with inpatient and outpatient programs serving 15,000 children and adults annually, regardless of their ability to pay. About 1,200 residents of Okeechobee - children ages 5 and up and adults - rely on New Horizons for therapy, case management, medication management and crisis care.

New Horizons also provides drug/alcohol prevention and anti-bullying programs to the Okeechobee School District.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, prior to covid one in five Americans dealt with mental health issues. Since the onset of the pandemic, however, it is estimated that number has doubled to 40% of Americans dealing with mental health issues due to social isolation, loss of income and uncertainty about the future.

“Our community health center is here for you Okeechobee,” said New Horizons CEO William Wims. “We’ve seen an incredible uptick in calls for help over the past 20 months. Now more than ever, it’s important people know that help is available day or night.”

New Horizons has a 24-hour help line at 772-468-3909 and a 24-hour Mobile Response Team that delivers mental health services directly to the person in need 365 days a year… at no cost.

At the main campus on Midway Road in Fort Pierce, programs include alcohol/drug detox, a 28-day drug/alcohol rehabilitation program, an adult crisis unit, a children’s crisis unit, and an adult group home.

Plans are underway to bring an intense outpatient program to Okeechobee for opioid and alcohol addiction to help ease cravings with medications.

“Medication assisted treatment has a proven track record of success,” said Wims. “We are proud to play a part in the recovery from this epidemic and will be educating the community how to access services.”

Approximately 65% of New Horizons clients are without a source of income or any insurance, yet no one is turned away due to lack of financial resources.

In addition to the exterior refurbishing, Luviano Roofing has agreed to purchase supplies for the interior updates and the Christ Fellowship Saturday Service group, led by Pastor Matthew Bowen, has scheduled a workday.

“It’s important to me and my fellow board members to keep the outpatient services on the minds of our neighbors and friends. We are committed to providing the best, most compassionate care regardless of one’s ability to pay for services. Our mission and vision are clear: we welcome you when you need us.” said Mrs. Clemons.

Established in 1958, New Horizons has 10 offices across the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee, providing convenient access to mental health and addiction recovery services. To learn more about services and upcoming events, please visit www.nhtcinc.org or call 772-672-8383.

new horizon, grand re-opening, ribbon cutting, mental health

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