- In Travis County, Texas, County Leaders Move Forward On $86 Million Mental Health Center, “Offering Alternative To Incarceration… While Providing Treatment And Stabilization Services.” For Community Impact, Jessica Mclaren reports on the county’s investment in “a permanent [crisis stabilization] facility that would build on the success of pilot programs the [city and county] have been operating since 2023… [that] will offer an alternative to incarceration [for patients] with mental health or substance abuse issues while providing treatment and stabilization services.” The commitment of the funds from the county “stems from a 2023 report from the Travis County Forensic Mental Health Project, which found roughly 40% of all people in Travis County Jail—and 70%-80% of those with substance abuse disorders—have mental illnesses… [and found that] people become trapped in jail while waiting for behavioral health services rather than receiving treatment.”
The new permanent facility builds on the county’s promising pilot that has delivered “24/7 psychiatric emergency services … providing immediate care for mental health crises; a therapeutic diversion center … where adults can stay up to 90 days for treatment… [and a] data-sharing system connecting Austin Police Department, Travis County Sheriff’s Office, medical entities and homeless organizations” across the city and county, since 2023. Austin Police Department Sgt. James Turner, a champion of the pilot program and permanent facility that has grown out of its success, explained at a panel in front of county leaders that “since the inception of the program, we’ve seen around 34,000 cases transferred from law enforcement to some other resource… every diversion from law enforcement provides us the opportunity to address those officers to be available for [] high-profile calls.”
- In Seattle, Washington, New Crisis Stabilization Center Provides “Somewhere Safe For Individuals To Go” And Receive Treatment, Instead Of The ER Or Jail. For The Seattle Spectator, Kean Mathis reports on Seattle and King County’s continued buildout of its new crisis stabilization facility infrastructure, including the newest center coming to Capitol Hill. County officials explained that while communities often already have “someone to call” through 988 and “someone to respond” through mobile crisis teams, “the piece that’s been missing is somewhere safe for individuals to go… Oftentimes, when a person finds themselves in crisis, there are very limited options, whether that be the emergency department or jail.” The new center aims to close that gap through walk-in urgent care, a 23-hour observation unit, and crisis stabilization services staffed by “registered nurses, psychiatric providers, medical doctors and substance use disorder specialists.” Officials say the broader crisis care system is also helping reduce pressure on first responders, with county leaders noting that 988-connected crisis services allow “EMTs, police and firefighters… to spend time doing what they are trained to do rather than responding to crises they’re not equipped to handle.”
