LAPLACE — This week closes out Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month across the nation, but River Parishes Behavioral Health Center is continuing to help residents in St. John the Baptist Parish year round.

Under the South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority umbrella, the Behavioral Health Center provides residents with a number of services.

William Magee, the Center’s manager, said substance abuse and mental health services are available to residents of St. John, St. James and St. Charles Parishes through the center.

“We have medication management, psychiatric evaluations assessments, we also work with a psychologist to do psychological testing,” Magee said. “We offer individual, group and family counseling services.”

Located at 1809 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace, Magee said the Behavioral Health Center provides local residents a place to turn.

“I feel that we are fairly well recognized,” Magee said.

“We provide services that allow people to become self-actualized and, hopefully, get back to a level of functioning that they were at once before.”

Those wishing to become a client are asked to contact the assessment center at 985-651-7064. Located at 232 Belle Terre Blvd. in LaPlace, it is an entry point for all individuals looking to come Behavioral Health Center services, Magee said.

“We do a screening over the phone,” Magee said. “Then, we schedule them to come in and they do an orientation.”

The Behavioral Health Center is open from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with appointments on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

With the help from South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority, local residents dealing with behavioral health and developmental disabilities can get the assistance they need and live as normally as possible.

Developmental Disabilities Assistant Director Carlos Amos said there are numerous services available such as a flexible family fund that acts like a subsidy.

It provides funds for families that have excessive needs to care for individuals with developmental disabilities.

“It’s like a monthly stipend of $258 a month until the child reaches the age of 18,” he said.

South Central also offers family support programs such as home respite care, according to community services’ Marva Jackson.

“For example, a parent has a child with a disability,” Jackson said.

“That parent will need a break sometimes. We are able to give them relief. They can get a worker to come to the home and stay for so many hours so the parents can take a break. They can go get groceries or do whatever it is they need to do during those times.”

Jackson, who works out of the Houma office, spends time in St. John Parish. She said the organization also provides personal care services.

“Because of the individual’s delays, they need help with personal care needs such as bathing, dressing and brushing their teeth,” Jackson said. “A worker, for a certain amount of hours, can go and assist the individual.”