Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty participated in the official opening of the Urgent Care Clinic at Moultrie Courthouse. He was joined by Councilmember David Catania, Chair, Council Committee on Health; Steve Baron, Director, DC Department of Mental Health; Chief Judge DC Superior Court Lee Satterfield, and Judge Ann O’Regan Keary, Presiding Judge, Criminal Division.

The Department of Mental Health, in a partnership with the DC Superior Court, opened the urgent care clinic to assist people referred by the judges – primarily from misdemeanor and traffic court – who may show signs of mental illness, who have been diagnosed as mentally ill, or who show signs of both mental illness and substance abuse orders. Walk-in patients will be treated as well.

“The clinic is an example of how we are working to improve the lives of our District residents in need,” said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. “We are giving people an opportunity to have on site, immediate assistance.”

The Department of Mental Health awarded a three year, $1.5 million contract to the Psychiatric Institute of Washington to operate the urgent care clinic.

“The urgent care clinic is an important resource in the public mental health system as we seek to make services widely and easily accessible,” said Baron.

Since it’s opening in June, the clinic has seen 146 people 110 of whom are homeless. 60 people have been linked to a community mental health provider for ongoing care, and eight people were sent to our emergency psychiatric facility for stabilization and treatment. Services that have been received are assessment by a psychiatrist, medication if necessary, and supportive services, which include helping with transitional housing, getting on the waitlist for permanent housing, and securing social security benefits.