McNabb Center expands Centerpointe facility
By Ken Lay
The Helen Ross McNabb Center hosted a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony at its Centerpointe location, located at 5310 Ball Camp Pike, early last week.
The sweltering temperatures couldn’t temper the celebration marking the expansion of the facility on Monday, June 29.
The McNabb Center, the region’s leading non-profit provider of mental health services, expanded its Centerpointe location by adding 26 beds and can now serve 72 patients at its 24/7 residential facility.
The expansion also included the addition of a kitchen, more living areas, a nurses’ station, offices and counseling spaces.
“This is a super special day,” said Helen Ross McNabb Center Chief Executive Officer Mona Blanton-Kitts. “This is a project that we’ve been working on for a long time.”
Planning for the renovation began in 2021 as the Boyd Family Foundation, University of Tennessee Medical Center, the City of Knoxville and Knox County formed a partnership, and Blanton-Kitts said that it began with $3 million in seed money.
That was later followed by a $13.5 million commitment from Knox County and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health.
“We have now gone from 46 to 72 beds,” Blanton-Kitts said.
Several community and state leaders were in attendance, including Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and Tennessee State Senator Becky Duncan Massey.
Jacobs, who will soon end his two-term, eight-year tenure in office, spoke about the importance of the McNabb Center, drawing on his experience as a professional wrestler.
“When I was first running for mayor in 2018, I did a lot of door knocking and when I talked to people, they said that mental health and substance use and abuse were big issues of concern for them,” Jacobs said. “Working in the entertainment industry, I’ve seen the impact that (substance use) has had on my friends and co-workers.
“A place like the Helen Ross McNabb Center makes people better and by making these people better, it makes Knox County better. I say it all the time, but Knox County is the best place to live, work and raise a family, and these people here are a big reason why Knox County is the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
As part of the ribbon-cutting, the Centerpointe facility dedicated the Ben Goodson Hall, a common area space for patients.
“This expansion allows us to provide help for people quicker. We are a 24/7 intensive treatment residence and this will allow us to provide more services to people,” said Jennifer Muise-Hill, Senior Director of Adult Substance Treatment Services. “We provide medically managed detoxification, residential treatment, therapy and recovery support.
“This expansion will help us to provide those services more efficiently”
