New Vera French clinic ‘is going to make all the difference’

Connie Moreno looked over a colorful mural that covered part of a wall on the third floor of the new Vera French Clinic at Duck Creek at 852 Middle Road in Bettendorf. It was titled “Building on the Dream. The legacy of Vera French.” The art focused on a timeline of many of the big […]

Connie Moreno looked over a colorful mural that covered part of a wall on the third floor of the new Vera French Clinic at Duck Creek at 852 Middle Road in Bettendorf. It was titled “Building on the Dream. The legacy of Vera French.” The art focused on a timeline of many of the big events in the history of the Vera French mental health services facilities. 

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That timeline ends on Oct. 8, 2021, which was the 50th anniversary celebration of the Vera French main building on West Central Park Avenue in Davenport. At some point, the art may have to be updated to include Oct. 11, 2023 – the date of the opening celebration for the three-floor, 26,000-square-foot community mental health facility that is now called the Vera French Clinic at Duck Creek. “This is all very nice. We work with many of the people here. So, we wanted to see what this is all about,” said Ms. Moreno, a volunteer and leader of Clothing Center at Minnie’s Maison, a free clothing center and nonprofit at 1119 LeClaire St., Davenport. Mr. Moreno was among 100 attendees at a Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony, open house and building tour of the new Vera French facility. Part of Wednesday’s events were held outdoors and in front of the new clinic. However, the rainy and windy conditions forced the ribbon-cutting indoors to the first floor of the new clinic. The new building – the site of a former TBK Bank facility and next door to the Home Depot store –  is Vera French’s second full-service community mental health clinic. It provides space to help meet the growing mental health needs of the community, according to information from the Vera French organization. The new clinic had a soft opening on Sept. 25. The first day it will start treating clients is Monday, Oct. 16. “The demand for the services Vera French provides has never been higher, and the Vera French Clinic (at 1441 W. Central Park Ave., Davenport) is at capacity,” said Vera French CEO Dr. Richard Whitacker, Jr. “This expansion is about increasing access to professional mental health services in our community, with the goal of serving 100 additional people every day.” Dr. Whitacker added that the new three-story facility currently employs about 45 people with a goal to eventually employ 50 to 55. New employees will most likely be licensed providers of mental health services. The new site is about a $900,000 investment for the Vera French organization – and that’s after the group received a big donation from a “very generous” benefactor who helped make the expansion possible, he said. Services and features at each of the three floors of the new Vera French Clinic include: 

• First floor: It has about 10,000 square feet of space. It offers outpatient prescriber services, including individual counseling, peer support and care condition services.
• Second floor: This floor has about 6,000 square feet for services. It is home to the Vera French Children and Family Center of Excellence. It features adolescent services coming together in a comfortable setting. The floor also features a variety of play therapy and observation rooms.
• Third floor: It also has about 6,000 square feet. The floor features office space, training rooms, human resources offices, billing and other administrative space.

In addition to the many services t offered at the new clinic, Vera French officials said they are also happy with the new site for two other reasons: The building has the space for growth for more services and more patients; and they love the location. It is near Interstate 74 and five bus lines converge on the area. “Vera French is about meeting people where they are. … This is going to make all the difference in the world,” said Dr. Whitacker. That goal of “making a difference” in the community is the most important aspect for many of the workers at the new Vera French clinic. One of them Chris McCormick Pries, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and mentor, who was hired by Dr. Vera French in 1975. Ms. McCormick Pries said that in her many years in the profession she has seen how hard it is for some people to walk through a clinic’s doors and ask for mental health services. That tough trip through the doors will be a little easier, she believes, because the new facility has a welcoming staff and welcoming look to it. “It doesn’t feel like a hospital. … It feels warmer. We truly need to be the welcoming face that says ‘We’re glad you’re here,’” she added. Vera French officials on Wednesday said they have more projects in the works. For example, the Vera French clinic on West Central Park Avenue, Davenport, is scheduled to undergo a renovation in the spring of 2024.