Last week’s action by Emporia city commissioners to approve a Conditional Use Permit for Emporia State’s former Chi Omega building clears most of the way for CrossWinds Counseling and Wellness to move there — but not all of it.
On KVOE’s Morning Show on Tuesday, CrossWinds CEO Amanda Cunningham said her organization is awaiting word on a second, currently unspecified building before it finalizes plans to move out of its current administrative offices at 1000 Lincoln.
Cunningham says the second building may not need to move through the zoning change process as the Chi Omega building did — if things proceed as planned. Word on the second building could be announced by early spring.
CrossWinds has been in a long-term lease for its Lincoln Street office space through Newman Regional Health. The lease ends in 2024, but Cunningham expects the consolidation at Chi Omega and the second office by early 2023. The hospital has expressed a willingness to use the Lincoln Street space to expand its operations once CrossWinds moves out.
The Chi Omega developments come as CrossWinds is facing higher demand for its services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
CrossWinds’ upcoming move also comes with the agency working to implement a two-year, $2.3 million federal grant to move towards a new service delivery model. The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic approach includes an increased crisis response, enhanced coordination with criminal justice systems locally and more emphasis on culturally appropriate services. The funding is for new programs, including improvements to same-day intake — known as “open access.” It will also help CrossWinds enhance mental health services to underserved segments of the area population.
