In order to extend telehealth services for high-risk and under-served populations, three area foundations have contributed funds for laptops and telehealth accounts so that therapists from First Step of Sarasota / Coastal Behavioral Healthcare can continue serving clients in the face of the coronavirus crisis. The Lee & Bob Peterson Foundation has contributed $15,000 with an additional grant of $26,000 from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation COVID-19 Response Initiative.

The grants from the COVID-19 Response Initiative are to relieve strain on key health and human-service organizations that are aiding residents hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Staff members at First Step / Coastal Behavioral are reporting increased levels of stress due to loss of jobs and health fears as well as isolation resulting from social distancing recommendations. Area youth are suffering from boredom and the isolation is particularly acute with this age group. In order to be able to provide crucial mental health services in a manner that is safe, therapists and prescribers at First Step / Coastal are utilizing telemedicine for outpatient clients of all ages through individual and group therapy as well as psychiatric services and medication-assisted therapy.

In total, there are 45 clinicians and prescribers using purchased telehealth accounts plus 10 student assistants connecting with youth remotely. At this time, there are approximately 1,510 individuals receiving clinical services while the student assistance program is serving 400 students through Zoom. The family life intervention program is working with 30 youth via telephone. 

"The short-term goal of telehealth is to help our clients who receive treatment for behavioral, mental health or substance use disorders make it through this trying time," said First Step CEO Gwen MacKenzie. "In the longer term, telehealth will become an important tool that expands the resources available to serve individuals in need of behavioral health services. We are so grateful to the Lee & Bob Peterson Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Barancik Foundation for stepping up and making these resources available for us to bolster our telehealth program."

First Step of Sarasota is a nonprofit substance abuse treatment center with detox, residential and outpatient programs. Visit fsos.org. Coastal Behavioral Healthcare offers innovative and comprehensive mental health and substance abuse programs for adults and children, including at-risk youth and those who are low-income. 

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