SalusCare hoping for land lease extension to stay in the Cape
SalusCare is seeking the city’s assistance so the behavioral health care provider can further the process of reopening its building with FEMA’s assistance.
SalusCare Executive Administrator and Director of Outsourced Operations Michelle Sutherland said the Cape Coral facility was built with state funds and dedicated on Nov. 10, 1991, when it was owned by another treatment program, Outreach Inc.
“Three years later, Outreach closed its doors and reached an agreement for SWFAS to assume Outreach’s debt and ownership of the building as long as it was used for treating those with substance use disorders,” she said. “This facility is built on land owned by the city of Cape Coral under a land lease.”
Unfortunately, Hurricane Ian did significant damage to the Cape Coral location, closing its doors until repairs can be made.
“About 50% of the roof was completely ripped off and water entered the building. The building has since been secured from further water intrusion and is now gutted on the inside, waiting reconstruction. We have sought alternate, temporary space in Cape Coral, but our efforts have been fruitless,” Sutherland said.
Last year, SalusCare served 3,061 individuals from Cape Coral, its largest demographic. Other large groups include Lehigh Acres with 2,390, Fort Myers with 2,125, North Fort Myers with 1,055 and South Fort Myers with 1,877.
After the storm, they began the FEMA process, which has seen many delays, as the FEMA project manager has changed several times.
“It has also taken us longer than expected to complete and settle the detailed damage description as it is a very cumbersome task for both us and FEMA. We have engaged with a consultant to help us navigate the process. We are nearing the final stages with FEMA for this phase, and need the lease from the city to move forward. Even if we started tomorrow, we are estimated to be at least 12-18 months out from a return as we will need to follow the federal procurement guidelines to select contractors,” Sutherland said.
A long-term lease is needed for a minimum of 20 years as soon as possible for SalusCare to move forward.
“This is the commitment FEMA wants to see before the funds can be allocated. This is because of the unique arrangement of SalusCare owning the building and the city owning the land. Our extensive efforts to return to Cape Coral are at a standstill until we have this in hand,” she said.
SalusCare also is seeking help for the backflow problem bill from the city.
“The City of Cape Coral is now requiring backflow prevention testing. As a result of the testing, necessary repairs totaling nearly $20,000 were identified. At no time in our 25-plus year partnership has SalusCare been responsible for backflow repairs for this property. SalusCare is requesting that the city cover this expense,” Sutherland said.
She said SalusCare is eager to return to Cape Coral as it is the largest and most populous city in Lee County.
“The residents of Cape Coral deserve the ability to receive compassionate behavioral healthcare in their own community,” Sutherland said. “It is not easy for everyone to cross the bridge. While telehealth is convenient, patients and providers alike have expressed a desire for the ability to deliver and receive face-to-face services. Not only was SalusCare operating from this building, but it also served as a United Way Resiliency Hub where other not-for-profits and United Way partner agencies had a regular and reliable place to provide services at no cost to them. The building was also home to Cape Coral’s largest recovery self-help group with daily meetings. This building serves the community and touches many lives — not just SalusCare.”
Lee Mental Health, established in 1969, and Southwest Florida Addiction Services, established in 1980, merged into one newly named not-for-profit healthcare provider -SalusCare, Inc on July 1, 2013.
“SalusCare was selected as the name, drawing on the Latin roots of ‘Salus,’ meaning health, prosperity and safety, which reflects the focus of the merged organization,” she said. “Today, SalusCare employs more than 300 people who bring hope and recovery to nearly 13,000 adults and children each year in Southwest Florida. Merging these long-standing mental health and substance abuse treatment organizations has ultimately improved care for children and adults by utilizing one seamless system of care.”
There are many services SalusCare provides for the community.
It offers a full continuum of care for children and adults in need of behavioral health treatment, as they treat both mental health and substance use disorders.
“SalusCare’s Colonial Campus is the only Baker Act Receiving Facility for children in Lee County, and one of two for adults in Lee County. There are 16 beds for children and 30 beds for adults at this level of care,” Sutherland said.
The Evans Campus houses a 20-bed detoxification unit for adults who are seeking safe and medically supervised withdrawal for substances, she said.
“Patients from detox can experience a seamless transition to either residential or medicated assisted treatment, or even outpatient therapy or psychiatry. The Evans campus also houses our outpatient therapy and psychiatry team for kids, with no waiting,” Sutherland said.
The Vince Smith Campus has a 10-bed residential facility for teens recovering from substance use disorders.
“Kids here can even attend school through a partnership with the Lee County Schools,” she said with an average length of stay from three to six months.
The Transitional Living Campus in Fort Myers is SalusCare’s hub for adult recovery, as it offers residential and day treatment for substance use disorders, as well as recovery residences offering safe, sober housing for individuals in recovery.
“With all of the programs on this campus, there are over 80 beds for men and women,” Sutherland said.
SalusCare also offers recovery coaches, a maternal assistance program, case management and community-based services.
“Most notably, SalusCare does not refuse services to anyone based on inability to pay,” Sutherland said.
City Manager Mike Ilczyszyn said at Cape Coral City Council’s Feb. 5 meeting that SalusCare’s lease is expiring.
“We have been moving away from leases,” he said. “We can do some other arrangement.”
Ilczyszyn said after staff meets with SalusCare, he will put together an executive summary so Council can have a discussion.