SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Oaklawn's transition into a "Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic" (CCBHC) has allowed clinicians to completely transform the way they care for patients.
Oaklawn made the change to an "Open-Access" model, allowing for patients struggling with their mental health or addiction to receive treatment the same day they walk in the door.
A process that used to take weeks has now been cut down to just a few hours, and most leave Oaklawn's' facilities with a care plan the same day.
The switch to CCBHC has also allowed for the development of crisis services with several dedicated clinics across Michiana, specifically meant to handle someone going through an emergency situation.
In 2025, Oaklawn saw 30 percent more patients and was able to hire on more staff to deal with the uptick.
Oaklawn also features a mobile crisis unit, allowing their team to drive directly to someone experiencing a crisis.
Employees tell ABC57 their rate of "no-shows" for appointments has dropped to zero since every patient has the ability to been seen same-day.
If you or someone you know is in need of mental health assistance, you can call Oaklawn's crisis line at 574-533-1234 or visit their walk-in clinics in South Bend, Elkhart and Goshen.
Goshen's crisis center is open 24/7 and more information about Oaklawn's services can be found here.