CHARLOTTE — Mike Estramonte has big plans for a new mental health center in Charlotte.
“What we’re building here is a long-term solution to this crisis,” Estramonte said.
He spoke about youth violence, and police say teen crime has increased in Charlotte this year.
“The No. 1 reason we’re failing so badly right now is the lack of continuity of care,” Estramonte, CEO of the Katy Blessing Center, told Channel 9’s Armiya White.
The new Katy Blessing Center aims to reduce Charlotte’s juvenile crime rate. The 72-bed facility in east Charlotte will provide inpatient and outpatient mental health care for people ages 5 to 18.
[ RELATED: There’s no easy solution to teen crime in Charlotte, leaders say ]
A City Council committee on Thursday recommended $2.5 million for the center.
“Give the community a choice, [police] “The options are … do we have to take them to the detention center or can we take them to behavioral health urgent care at Katy Blessing Center to have them evaluated,” Estramonte said.
Charlotte City Councilman James Mitchell says mental health plays a role in teen crime.
“When we look at the causes, we’re finding that 30 to 40 percent comes from a psychological standpoint,” Mitchell said.
That’s why reaching them at a young age can make a difference to their future, Estramonte said.
“This will be a major early intervention and a major turning point for these kids in that sense,” Estramonte told White.
Mitchell says she hopes this is the first of many steps to help children in Charlotte.
“I would love to see more organizations step in and help us with what I call the holistic development cycle: emotional, vocational and mentoring, just like we did with the juvenile crime issue,” Mitchell said.
[ SEE MORE > Raise the Age: The crisis of North Carolina’s juvenile justice system ]
To learn more about the Katie Blessing Center and how you can get involved, click this link.
(WATCH: N.C. Senate advances bill to hear juvenile cases in superior court)
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