Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center is expanding its role as Marion County’s community mental health provider after receiving state approval to assume community mental health center responsibilities in Warren and Lawrence townships.
The expansion, announced June 9, follows approval from the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) for Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center to take over designated community mental health center responsibilities currently managed by Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health.
The transition is expected to be finalized before the end of 2026 and will increase Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center’s designated service area from two to four Marion County townships. The organization will serve Center, Wayne, Warren and Lawrence townships as the state’s designated community mental health center in those areas.
Officials from both organizations said they are working together to ensure residents continue receiving uninterrupted behavioral health care throughout the transition.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to serve Marion County in an expanded capacity by providing services in Warren and Lawrence townships,” said Dr. Ashley Overley, CEO of Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center and vice president of mental health operations for Eskenazi Health, in a statement. “This transition also allows us to expand Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic services into new locations, which we see as additional enhancement of services for those locations.”
Community mental health centers play a critical role in Indiana’s behavioral health system. The state designates geographic catchment areas and assigns a community mental health center to provide services within those boundaries. These centers serve as a primary access point for mental health and substance use treatment, connecting residents with outpatient services, crisis intervention, case management and recovery support programs.
Under the expansion, residents of Warren and Lawrence townships will gain access to Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic model. Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, commonly known as CCBHCs, are designed to improve access to comprehensive behavioral health services through coordinated, community-based care.
Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center provides inpatient and outpatient treatment for individuals experiencing mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The organization utilizes a recovery-focused approach that emphasizes patient participation, family involvement and evidence-based treatment practices.
Services are available regardless of a person’s ability to pay.
According to Eskenazi Health, the center currently operates nine outpatient locations along with residential treatment facilities throughout Marion County. The expansion into Warren and Lawrence townships will require the addition of new staff members and service locations to meet growing demand.
Mental health advocates have increasingly emphasized the need for expanded access to behavioral health care in Indiana. Rising demand for services, workforce shortages and growing awareness of mental health challenges have contributed to ongoing efforts to strengthen the state’s behavioral health infrastructure.
By expanding its catchment area, Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center officials say they will be able to reach more residents while increasing access to community-based treatment options.
Overley said the organization appreciates Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health’s partnership throughout the process.
“We are grateful for the partnership with Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health and their collaboration in supporting the transition,” she said.
Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health, which operates under Community Health Network, will continue working alongside Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center as responsibilities shift over the coming months.
George Hurd, vice president of Behavioral Health for Community Health Network, said both organizations share a commitment to ensuring patients continue receiving care without disruption.
“Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health is pleased to partner with Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center to support a smooth and thoughtful transition of services,” Hurd said in a statement. “Our shared focus remains on ensuring a strong continuity of care and ensuring each individual and family continues to receive the services they need.”
The transition comes as health systems and state agencies continue prioritizing access to behavioral health services across Indiana. Community-based mental health providers serve as a cornerstone of that effort, particularly for vulnerable populations who may face barriers to accessing care.
As a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center provides services to anyone in Marion County seeking mental health or substance use treatment. The organization states that care is available regardless of age, race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, gender identity or place of residence.
The center also supports the broader mission of Eskenazi Health, Marion County’s public health care system. Operated through the Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Eskenazi Health provides primary care, specialty care and mental health services to residents throughout the county and surrounding communities.
Health leaders say maintaining continuity of care will remain a top priority throughout the transition process. Patients currently receiving services through Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health in Warren and Lawrence townships are expected to continue receiving support as both organizations coordinate the changeover.
Additional details regarding new service locations, staffing expansions and implementation timelines are expected to be announced as the transition progresses.
Once finalized, the expansion will position Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center as the designated community mental health center for nearly half of Marion County’s nine townships, significantly increasing its role in delivering behavioral health and substance use treatment services across Indianapolis.
For residents and families seeking behavioral health support, officials say the transition is intended to strengthen access to care while preserving the community partnerships and patient-centered approach that remain central to both organizations’ missions.
For more information, visit eskenazihealth.edu/mental-health/sandra-eskenazi-mental-health-center.
This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis African-American Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights. https://iaaqli.org/
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
