More than 1,000 Riley Co. residents received crisis services from Pawnee last fiscal year

Apr. 22—More than 1,000 Riley County residents received crisis services from Pawnee Mental Health Services in fiscal year 2023, new agency CEO Michael Rezkalla told county commissioners on Monday.

Rezkalla said of those 1,158 people, 398 people received mental health crisis care while in an emergency room in Pawnee's 10-county service area, which includes Riley, Clay, Geary and Pottawatomie counties.

For the same fiscal year, which stretched from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, Rezkalla said 742 individuals came directly to the Pawnee crisis stabilization unit, and 18 received crisis care screenings while in the Riley County jail.

In FY 2023, Pawnee counselors provided nearly $12 million in uncompensated services.

"I call it our contribution to the community," Rezkalla said. "A lot of that is because many of our clients are uninsured or underinsured."

Pawnee provides mental health crisis care through its status as a certified community behavioral health clinic, or CCBHC. Having CCBHC status means Pawnee crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in-person at the crisis stabilization unit, currently at 1558 Hayes Drive in Manhattan.

Individuals located in the 10-county area can also get crisis care over the phone by calling 1-800-609-2002 to speak to a counselor in Manhattan.

Pawnee clients can receive total behavioral healthcare through the agency without the need to seek multiple providers. Pawnee receives funding for such services via an expansion grant administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Rezkalla was named the CEO of Pawnee Mental Health Services in March after a nationwide search for longtime CEO Robbin Cole's replacement. Cole will officially retire from the position May 1. Cole has served as CEO since 2006 and started her career as an intern with the agency in 1986.

Rezkalla came to Manhattan from Worchester, Massachusetts. While there, he worked for UMass Memorial Community Healthlink, a large multi-service, behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment and community health provider.

Rezkalla has a master's degree in public administration and in pastoral ministry, both from Anna Maria College, in Paxton, Massachusetts.

County to fine unauthorized parking in health department lot

In other business, commissioners approved an enhanced enforcement measure for the parking lots at both the Riley County Health Department and the Riley County Historical Museum.

The new rule adds a $50 per-day fine for a vehicle parked in one of those two lots without approval. If a car is parked for more than a week, the fine increases to $500.

County counselor Clancy Holeman said the new rule, effective Monday, is meant to keep K-State students from using the health department and museum lots for long-term parking.

The new rule does not involve towing away vehicles parked in prohibited spots.

The next Riley County Commission meeting is Thursday at 8:30 a.m. at the Riley County Courthouse.

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