Constructing Lives One Brick at a Time
Capital Campaign 2008-2009
What is CMHS?
Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Inc. (CMHS,
Inc.) is a community mental health center serving the residents of eastern
Jackson County, Missouri. Our primary mission is to provide mental health and
substance abuse services for the indigent and the more than 41,000 eastern
Jackson County residents that lack health insurance.
Founded in 1969, CMHS began with just a small outpatient clinic. It now serves over 6,000 clients served annually, and has become the primary mental health safety net for the area. CMHS programs are not only nationally and locally certified, but have received nationwide recognition for excellence.
Why a Capital
Campaign?
Why a New Building?
Lack of Space
Back in 1981, when CMHS moved to its current location
at 10901 Winner Road, we were serving about 1/6 of our present client load. As a
result, we have become increasingly pressed for adequate space. Our landlocked
location in the Englewood Plaza in downtown Independence does not lend itself to
any new building additions.
Constructing Lives One
Brick at a Time
The existing layout has also become increasingly
obsolete, and is not conducive to the development of critically needed new
services or the expansion of ongoing services.
Increasing Maintenance Costs
The current building was constructed in 1955 and is
showing its age. The exterior has signs of increasing deterioration, and the
interior is in need of extensive renovations. The HVAC system is unable to
keep up with the cold of winter or
the heat of summer. It is no longer cost effective to address these
issues on a case-by-case basis.
Ongoing, comprehensive renovations—even if they made sense financially— would also interfere with our ability to deliver mental health services effectively, and within a quiet, stress-free environment. This is a particularly important concern when dealing with mentally fragile clients. In addition, modern, up-to-date facilities are important to attracting and retaining a high quality, professional staff or new clients, especially those with private insurance.
Improved Service Delivery
CMHS has enough land to construct a new building near our Community Support Services facility, which is located on Highway 78 and Swope Drive in Independence. Having the building close together will improve our ability to refer clients from one program to another, providing better communication and easier access to a wide variety of services. This space is also adjacent to apartment houses for consumers with serious mental illness. In addition, this location is closer to the major population growth centers in our community, making it more accessible to clients and employees alike.
How can you Help?
For CMHS, philanthropy plays a critical role in the
delivery of our mental health and substance abuse services. There are several
simple and convenient ways to make a gift.
Cash
Cash provides an immediate benefit to CMHS, and is
the simplest way of calculating the tax benefit of a donation. Please make your
check payable to Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Inc. We also accept Visa
and MasterCard with proper authorization.
Neighborhood Assistance
Program (NAP) Credits
If you are a qualifying business in the State of
Missouri, your contribution may be eligible for a NAP credit. The NAP credit
lets you redirect your Missouri tax dollars into local projects like the CMHS
Capital Campaign while gaining a tax credit worth 50% of the value of your
contribution. The credit is claimed when you file your Missouri tax return.
Qualifying donations include cash (valued at face
amount of the check); materials, supplies and equipment (valued at the lesser of
either the fair market value or donor’s cost); labor (valued at the employee’s
hourly wage plus fringes); real estate (valued at the lesser of two independent
appraisals); and publicly-traded stocks and bonds.
The NAP tax credit is not refundable or transferable,
and is subject to a five-year carry-forward provision. If you would like
additional information about NAP credits, contact Jamie at 816-254-3652 ext 263
or Stephani at ext. 219.
“Buy a Room” Program
The
“Buy a Room” program may be of interest to private individual donors who do not
qualify for the NAP Credits.
Individual rooms within the new CMHS building are “for sale” at the levels
designated below. With the “purchase” of a room, a brass plaque will be
installed in any room or rooms you designate with either your name or the name
of any friend or family member you choose.
Lobby …..$20,000
Board Room…..$15,000
Offices…..$5,000
This is a beautiful way to memorialize your loved ones while supporting the CMHS mission.
Click the link below for a pledge form