Citrus Mental Health Hospital: Your Partner in Healing

More people are facing mental health challenges, which has led to the opening of many mental health centers to help.

Citrus Mental Health Hospital in South Florida is one of these places, offering a variety of services to support the community.

This blog post will talk about what Citrus Mental Health Hospital offers and the caring team that works there.

Additionally for easy access to mental health support, you can also try BetterHelp, an online platform that connects you with licensed mental health professionals.

An Overview of Citrus Mental Health Hospital

Citrus Health Network, one of the largest providers of mental and behavioral health services in South Florida, has made healthcare accessible, affordable, and convenient for the community.

Established in 1979 as Northwest Dade C.M.H.C., the organization has evolved to meet the changing needs of those it serves.

In 2004, Citrus Health Network became a Federally Qualified Health Center, which enabled them to provide both mental health and primary care services in one place.

This all-in-one approach helps ensure that patients receive complete care for both their physical and mental health.

By working closely with community leaders, government agencies, grassroots organizations, and advocacy groups, Citrus Health Network remains committed to expanding its mission and making a positive impact on the lives of those in the South Florida community.

Mental Health Programs & Services Provided By Citrus

1. Mental & Behavioral Health for Adults

Citrus Mental Health Hospital offers a wide array of mental and behavioral health services specifically designed for adults.

Their Crisis Stabilization Unit is available for individuals experiencing a mental health emergency, providing intensive short-term care to quickly stabilize the situation and determine the best course of treatment moving forward.

For those who need more extensive support, the hospital provides an adult inpatient residential program.

This program is focused on helping patients regain stability in a safe, structured environment where they receive ongoing care and support.

The goal is to ensure that patients are well-prepared to transition back into the community with the tools they need for continued recovery.

In addition to these inpatient services, Citrus Mental Health Hospital also offers comprehensive outpatient care.

This includes psychiatric evaluations to accurately diagnose mental health conditions, medication management to help control symptoms, and various forms of therapy—such as individual, group, and family therapy—to address the emotional and psychological aspects of mental health.

These outpatient services are designed to support adults in managing their mental health conditions on an ongoing basis, helping them achieve better well-being and quality of life.

2. Children’s Mental & Behavioral Health

Citrus Health Network provides comprehensive mental and behavioral health services for children and teens.

They offer emergency assessments available 24/7 to create personalized care plans for those in need.

Additionally, they run the only Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit in the area, which is always open to support young individuals during mental health crises and direct them to the appropriate treatment.

For kids and teens with serious mental health needs, Citrus offers specialized inpatient care that includes medical services, therapy, life skills training, and education.

After leaving the facility, patients get ongoing support to help them adjust back into their communities and schools.

Citrus also provides outpatient services, including evaluations, medication management, and therapy for children and families.

They offer special support for victims of abuse and juvenile offenders.

Their Children’s Community Teams provide in-home care for kids who need more intensive support, helping them stay with their families instead of being placed in residential programs.

For over 25 years, Citrus has been involved in foster care, supporting children with emotional and behavioral challenges, as well as victims of commercial sexual exploitation and homeless LGBTQ youth. They train foster parents to care for these children in specialized homes.

Citrus also works with the Miami-Dade Department of Juvenile Justice to provide mental health services and therapy for adolescents referred by the DJJ.

Their CHANCE Program offers specialized foster care and community support for victims of commercial sexual exploitation, helping them recover and thrive.

They also offer additional services like primary care, foster care, and HIV/AIDS support. For more information, you can visit their official website.

Professionals and Providers At Citrus

Citrus Mental Health Hospital is staffed with a diverse team of skilled professionals, including licensed psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, and marriage and family therapists.

Here are a few of them…

1. Licensed Psychiatrists and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners

Xenia L. Aponte, MD: Psychiatry Residency Program Director and adult psychiatrist, guiding future psychiatrists.
Carlos A. Salgado, MD: Director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program, specializing in adult psychiatry.
Erick Acosta Heredia, MD: Psychiatry Resident and General Practitioner, gaining experience while treating patients.
Claudia Mercedes Alfonso, MD: Psychiatry Resident, focused on providing compassionate psychiatric care.

2. The Licensed Psychologists

Dolly Akel-Greer, Psy.D. – Psychologist
Alexandra Maria Alfonso, Psy.D. – Clinical Supervisor
Julissa Artiles, Psy.D. – Psychologist
Alejandra Belmont, Psy.D. – Psychologist
Rashaana A. Blenman, Psy.D. – Psychologist
Madelyn Cabrera, Psy.D. – Assistant Training Coordinator

They provide expert care and support to patients, with roles ranging from therapy to clinical supervision and training.

3. The Licensed Clinical Social Workers

Erika Alvarez, LCSW – She supervises other clinicians, ensuring patients get top-notch care.
Erika G. Baltar Etienne, LCSW – She provides therapy and support directly to patients.
Laura Cabrera, LCSW – She also offers therapy and helps patients with their mental health needs.
Maria Elena Fernandez, LCSW – She supervises and guides other social workers in their work.
Joanna Garcia, LCSW – She focuses on patient care, providing therapy and support.

4. The Licensed Mental Health Counselors

Alina B. Bello Rodriguez, LMHC – She works directly with patients, offering therapy and mental health support.
Ileana Dela Cari Alonso Perez, LMHC – She also provides therapeutic care, helping patients manage their mental health.
Nathalia R. Calabrese, LMHC – She manages the ACM Palm Center and ensures that the facility runs smoothly while providing care.
Mialexa I. Collado-Ricardo, LMHC – She supervises other clinicians, helping maintain high standards of patient care.
Janet C. Conde, LMHC – She offers therapy and support to patients, helping them with their mental health needs.

5. The Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists

Maria V. Alonso, LMFT – She works with clients to address mental health challenges, focusing on improving relationships and emotional well-being.
Nardelis Cuevas Rodriguez, LMFT – She provides therapy to help clients navigate relationship issues and mental health concerns.
Breia Daija Nichole Pierce, LMFT – She offers therapy, focusing on supporting individuals and families in building healthier connections.
Kristin Scanlon, LMFT – As a Clinical Supervisor, she oversees and guides other therapists to ensure high-quality care for all clients.

These therapists are dedicated to helping clients improve their relationships and mental health in a supportive and compassionate environment.

Career and Education Programs

Citrus Health Network is committed to delivering top-quality care to more than 30,000 patients every year.

They take pride in being an Equal Opportunity Employer, treating everyone with respect and fairness, no matter their race, color, background, religion, marital status, family situation, sexual orientation, disability, gender, or age.

They strive to be a preferred employer by providing a supportive and inclusive work environment.

Full-time employees get health insurance, complete dental coverage, free life insurance, a retirement plan, six paid holidays, and more vacation time the longer they stay with the company.

If you need proof of employment for someone who works or used to work at Citrus Health Network, you can get it from the Human Resources Department.

Citrus Health Network also participates in the National Health Service Corps, which helps eligible licensed practitioners with loan repayment.

On the other hand, Citrus Health Network’s Office of Education and Training provides a supportive learning environment for professionals in training across 10 healthcare disciplines.

They ensure high educational standards and strong supervision to prepare future healthcare workers.

Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), Citrus was the first Federally Qualified Health Center to offer a psychiatry residency program.

They also offer accredited programs like a Predoctoral Psychology Internship and Postdoctoral Psychology Residency.

In collaboration with various institutions, they train professionals in fields such as medicine, nursing, psychology, social work, and more.

For details about these programs, you can reach out to the Office of Education and Training at [email protected]

Want to know more about mental health hospitals, check these out:

Locations and Contact Information

Citrus Mental Health Hospital has four locations offering various services:

1. Citrus Main Center & Citrus Med: Located at 4175 West 20th Avenue, Hialeah, FL 33012, they provide psychiatry and mental health services for adults and children.

Outpatient services are available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Assessment and emergency services are available 24/7.

You can reach them during regular hours at 305-825-0300 and after hours at 305-823-0080.

For general and internal medicine, call 305-424-3120, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

2. Citrus Palm Center: Located at 60 East 3rd Street, Suite 102C, Hialeah, FL 33010, they specialize in family medicine.

Their hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can contact them during regular hours at 786-441-5330 and after hours at 305-424-3120.

3. Citrus Maternal & Child Health Center: Located at 551 West 51st Place, Hialeah, FL 33012, they focus on pediatrics and women’s health.

Their hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You can reach them at 305-817-6560 during both regular and after hours.

For more information, visit their official website.

FAQ’s:

Is citrus good for mental health?

Citrus Mental Health Hospital is focused on helping people with their mental health.
They have a team of experienced doctors, therapists, and social workers who provide personalized care for both adults and children.
The hospital offers a wide range of treatments in a supportive environment, making it a good option for anyone looking for mental health services.

Who is the CEO of Citrus Health?

Mario Jardon, LCSW, is the founder and current President and CEO of Citrus Health Network.

What is the best type of mental health therapy?

The best type of mental health therapy varies based on each person’s needs and preferences. There isn’t a single approach that works for everyone.
Some common therapies that help are CBT, DBT, IPT, and psychodynamic therapy.
It’s important to work with a qualified mental health professional to find the right therapy for you.