INDIANAPOLIS — Quinton Holland said he is not often in his office at the Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center on Indianapolis’ Northwest side. Instead the clinical director for the mental health service provider, “Raising Baselines,” can be found in the community.
“Though these chairs are here, they’re not used as much,” Holland said.
Since starting in 2020, Raising Baselines has worked with upwards of 300 neighbors — some just one time, others long-term. The work is personal for him.
The dad of two said he started the resource in part after seeing friends and family struggle with mental health during the pandemic.
“I realized if those things are happening at home, there is going to be an increase around the city,” Holland said.
His work in the community, though, did not start during the pandemic. Holland has worked in the field since 2011 always with the focus of helping provide mental health resources in the Circle City.
Last week, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and other city leaders spoke out on a proposed pilot program involving a 24/7 mental health response team. It would be made up of trained peers, social workers and even paramedics. The team would respond to non-violent mental health 911 calls rather than the police.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Holland said while applauding the initiative.
Holland notes he has been involved in other citywide mental health programs in the past.
“When you have those situations you need somebody who is probably not the police, especially in urban settings because there’s a lot of fear, a lot of anxiety,” Holland said.
He hopes, the budget, which includes, two million in funding for the team, is approved by the City-County Council next month.
“Anytime you can send a scalpel in instead of a knife, then it's going to be a better situation,” Holland said.
City leaders told WRTV the pilot program would begin early next year if the City-County budget is approved in October.
-
Parents sue after 11-year-old's suicide after 'severe and pervasive bullying'
The parents of an 11-year-old girl who died by suicide have filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging the school district failed to address “severe and pervasive bullying.”
'Complete shock': Cleanup under way in Bloomington after severe storm
Cleanup is underway in Bloomington after a powerful storm tore through neighborhoods on the city’s west side.
Bloomington businesses hit hard by severe weather damage
Bloomington residents are waking up to widespread damage Friday morning after a reported tornado struck the west side of the city Thursday evening.
Trump signs order for new tariffs after Supreme Court blocked earlier plan
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled, 6-3, that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not give President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs, dealing a major blow to his trade agenda.
