NAVOS Mental Health Solutions holds 'Beam Signing' to introduce new outpatient clinic

A new beginning and a new home for NAVOS Mental Health Solutions outpatient clinic was unveiled Sept. 14 with a "beam signing" by local politicians, NAVOS board members, and staff.

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS

The NAVOS outpatient clinic is currently located in the shadow the SeaTac Airport’s third runway at 1010 S 146th St. Sometime in 2012 NAVOS will be moving into their new 15 million dollar outpatient clinic located at 1210 S.W. 136th St. in Burien, WA. The new facility will be capable of handling more than 3,000 outpatients per year.

The mission of NAVOS is to provide improve the quality of life of people vulnerable to mental illness by providing a broad continuum of care. Every day, hundreds of severely mentally ill Seattle residents make their homes in the streets, shelters, and greenbelts of the city. NAVOS’ multi-disciplinary PACT team reaches out to help. NAVOS connects homeless individuals with housing, treatment, and wraparound services, resulting in fewer people on the street, in jail, and in state hospitals—and more people living independently.

On hand for the beam signing were King County Councilperson Jan Drago, Burien City Councilperson, Kathy Keene, and State Senator Joe McDermott. Representatives for Patty Murry and Congressman Jim McDermott were also there. All signed their names to the beams which will be left exposed as a thank you to everyone who had a hand in making the new facility possible.

The original property was home to Burien Heights Elementary and a senior center. There is also an apartment building located on the north east corner of the property that was purchased by NAVOS.
Executive Director David Johnson spoke to the reasons for purchasing the apartment building. “Our current location is under (next to) the airports third runway, but was located in a residential neighborhood where are clients could live in close proximity to care. We purchased the apartments in order to re- create the same environment”. The airport noise was a major factor in finding a new location. “We have clients with PTSD and other disorders that were being negatively impacted by the airplane noise. For their benefit we needed to re- locate to a much quieter location”.

For over forty years, NAVOS has been responding to the needs of people with mental illness in King County. Services are targeted to those who live at or near poverty, often as a result of their mental illness.
40 percent of homeless adults have a mental illness. By providing safe, affordable housing and support services to low-income people with mental illness, NAVOS is helping to relieve the burdens of poverty so those in need can focus on recovery.

Part of NAVOS’ rehabilitation and recovery services are aimed at employment. At the mew location a café’ and catering service will provide employment training and some permanent jobs.
The Inpatient services will still be located at their West Seattle campus.

For more information about NAVOS and their complete inpatient/outpatient services go to www.navos.org