DAVENPORT, IOWA (June 27, 2023) — The Vera French Community Mental Health Center (VF CMHC) is adding a second full-service outpatient mental-health clinic to serve our community in late 2023 and to meet the growing mental-health needs of the Quad Cities and our larger region.
Vera French has announced its purchase and renovation of the first three floors of the tower at 852 Middle Road in Bettendorf, Iowa. The location also provides for easy access to I-74.
Vera French has proudly served as an independent community mental health center (CMHC) for a five-county region including the Quad Cities over the last 74 years. “It is central to our mission to advance mental health for all and to collaborate with our community partners,” said Vera French CEO Dr Richard Whitaker Jr PhD. “Vera French’s expansion to Middle Road in Bettendorf will allow us to help more people improve their mental health — which in our experience is the foundation of healthy living.”
Vera French will maintain and expand vital mental health and substance use treatment services currently provided at its location at 1441 W. Central Park Avenue in Davenport, Iowa.
“The demand for the services Vera French provides has never been higher,” said Denise Beenk MBA/LISW/SHRM-CP, Vera French Chief Operating Officer (COO). ”We need more space for outpatient clinical and case-management services, plus we are adding a program to treat substance use using a holistic approach.”
In early 2021, Vera French began its search to expand access to evidence-based mental health services and healthy living solutions. In consultation with the Vera French Board of Directors, the acquisition of 26,000 additional square feet at 852 Middle Road in Bettendorf, Iowa was the best option from a programmatic and a fiscal perspective.
“Vera French’s expansion to Middle Road in Bettendorf is the right next step for our agency to reach more people who need our services,” said Robert Eby, Chair of the Vera French Board of Directors. ”The expansion also helps ensure the sustainability and longevity of Vera French in the coming years and decades to serve our community and larger region.”
Dr Whitaker added, “over the past year, we have seen an increase of 18% of persons seeking outpatient counseling services — our expansion to a second full-service clinic on Middle Road not only expands geographic access, but also means we are expanding our mental health workforce as well to meet the growing needs of our community.”
Vera French’s expansion to Middle Road in Bettendorf will add approximately 15-20 jobs in the Quad Cities Region — of which twelve to fifteen jobs will be licensed providers of mental-health services.
More information about working for Vera French can be found at verafrenchmhc.org/careers/.
Construction is in progress and Vera French anticipates seeing patients and clients at its new Middle Road location in late 2023. Additional details of Vera French’s services at the new location will be shared later this year.
About Vera French
Vera French is a family of non-profit Iowa corporations encompassing the Vera French Community Mental Health Center (VF CMHC), Vera French Housing (Housing), and the Vera French Foundation (the Foundation).
About the Vera French Community Mental Health Center (VF CMHC)
Founded in 1949 as the Scott County Mental Health Center, our agency strives to be a center of excellence which collaborates with our community partners to advance mental health for all and deliver high-quality, accessible healthy living solutions. In 1982, the agency was renamed in honor of longtime director Dr. Vera French, MD. Vera French Community Mental Health Center serves as an independent provider of community-based mental health services to all who need them. Vera French is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors which oversees a team of over 230+ talented medical, clinical, and behavioral health-management professionals.
About The Vera French Foundation
In 1985, the Vera French Foundation was created as a subsidiary of the VF CMHC to help spread compassionate awareness of mental illness in our community and to inspire generous giving.
About Vera French Housing
The Vera French Housing Corporation was formed in October 1994 to assist individuals with persistent mental illness to obtain permanent, affordable housing linked to the Center’s support services and other resources within the community. Today, Vera French Housing proudly owns and operates 141 apartment rental units scattered throughout Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa. Vera French Housing believes stable housing is vital to allowing individuals to focus on their mental and physical well-being.
For more information on Vera French, our agency’s 2022 Annual Report is attached and please visit our website: verafrenchmhc.org.
