The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners announced today an $18 million investment in an Emergency Behavioral Health Crisis Center.
The new center will provide Montgomery County residents with the critical support, crisis intervention, and stabilization services needed during mental health emergencies.
“The launch of the Emergency Behavioral Health Crisis Center marks a significant step forward in Montgomery County’s commitment to serving our most vulnerable residents in their most vulnerable moments,” said Jamila H. Winder, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. “The investment in this crisis center means that, once the center is operational, anyone in the County can walk in and receive comprehensive mental health support, no questions asked. By offering 24/7 access to crisis intervention and stabilization services, we are ensuring that residents receive the help they need, when they need it most.”
The center, which aims to be operational in the fall of 2025, will offer immediate help in a safe environment for those experiencing behavioral health emergencies, including mental health issues and substance use disorders. The center will serve children, adolescents, young adults, adults and seniors, and receive those who walk-in, are referred by the mobile crisis team, or dropped off by ambulance, fire, and police.
“Addressing the mental health crisis is a top priority for this administration, so I am proud that we are leading the way with this bold investment in emergency mental health services,” said Neil Makhija, Montgomery County Commissioner. “Once open, this center will be a best practice standard for care and intervention. Our goal is to create a coordinated system of care that supports the whole community and becomes a model for others in the region to follow.”
The need for this investment is clear—in 2023, the Montgomery County Mobile Crisis Team received 5,500 new calls regarding someone in a mental health crisis. In the same year, the 988 national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline received 5,435 calls from Montgomery County residents. In addition, every week, the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety’s Emergency Communications Center receives dozens of 9-1-1 calls from individuals reporting mental and behavioral health emergencies, overdoses, and other related incidents.
The crisis center is funded by a combination of sources, including state American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds earmarked for mental health services; the county’s ARPA funds; portions of the County’s opioid settlement funds; and MCS Reinvestment funds. Connections LLC of Phoenix, AZ, will be the county’s service provider. Connections specializes in behavioral health emergency services programming, with emergency centers in five states across the country, including now in Pennsylvania.
“By providing early, effective treatments to people experiencing mental health or substance use issues, we can prevent further crises in the future,” said Tom DiBello, Montgomery County Commissioner. “This investment is a strategic use of a variety of funding sources in order to ensure that Montgomery County residents have the support they need to lead full, healthy, and productive lives in our community.”
The center will also be part of the County’s broader diversion strategy to help individuals with significant mental health and/or substance use challenges avoid entering the justice system. It will be a place to go for those in need of immediate support and treatment, with the goal of preventing crises from escalating into situations that might involve law enforcement. It will also provide Montgomery County residents in crisis a safe and supportive environment, reducing the need for incarceration as a default solution.
“No one should go to jail simply because there aren’t better options available,” said Commissioner Winder. “The new crisis center will help those individuals experiencing mental health crises receive appropriate care instead of being incarcerated. It will give our police departments, law enforcement officers, EMTs, and emergency room hospitals a place to divert people in crisis, where they can receive treatment from staff who are living examples of recovery and mental wellness.”
“We’re honored to partner with Montgomery County to improve access to emergency behavioral health crisis care,” said Matt Miller, chief growth officer for Connections Health Solutions. “Connections has made it our mission to ensure that anyone in need knows they have a safe place to go to receive high quality treatment and care without having to leave their community. We look forward to collaborating with local leaders, law enforcement, first responders, providers, and community-based resources to bring these life-saving services to the area.”
About Connections Health Solutions
For over 15 years, Connections Health Solutions has been helping communities architect and operate behavioral health crisis care systems that provide help to people when they need it most. As the leading innovator in immediate-access behavioral health crisis care, Connections strives to make behavioral health work better, delivering improved quality of care and cost savings across all behavioral health populations. Throughout the United States, Connections’ crisis response centers and mobile crisis units serve as the hub of the crisis system, offering services to all individuals in need in the safest and least restrictive setting. The Connections Model, recognized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing as best practice, combines both medical and recovery-oriented treatment designed to get people connected to resources and back to their lives faster. For more information and crisis resources visit connectionshs.com.