Wisconsin has taken another step forward to help people with mental health and substance use emergencies with the opening of five crisis stabilization centers for adults. Crisis stabilization facilities support people who can’t stay in their community safely, but don’t need to be hospitalized. Funded by the Department of Health Services (DHS), the centers provide a dedicated location for this level of care for most counties. “Whether it’s been declaring 2023 the Year of Mental Health, securing new investments for school-based mental health and other initiatives, or supporting the launch of the state’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline contact center, we’ve been working to find solutions to the burgeoning mental health crisis facing our state since 2019,” said Gov. Tony Evers. “This includes bolstering our state’s crisis care infrastructure so that folks can access the care and support they need when and where they need it—especially in an emergency. While the opening of these new facilities is a tremendous step forward, we know there’s far more to do, and we’re committed to building on these efforts to ensure every Wisconsinite has access to mental and behavioral health care regardless of their ZIP code.” “The need for services for people experiencing mental health and substance use emergencies has been rising steadily over the past several years,” said DHS Secretary-designee Kirsten Johnson. “Our investment in these five crisis stabilization facilities for adults is a commitment to ensuring the right care is available at the right time in the right place for all state residents who need help.” DHS set aside $10 million in 2021 to support the development of five crisis stabilization facilities for adults, with each location serving multiple counties. The funding is part of Wisconsin’s share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds reserved for mental health and substance use services. Today’s announcement represents the work of four providers who each received a share of the funding in 2022 to establish these home-like centers. The services areas are based on partnerships the providers have set up with county agencies providing mental health and substance use services. The five facilities service separate regions or groups of counties:
| Region/Counties Served | Facility Operator | Facility Location |
|---|---|---|
| Dodge, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha | Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services | Waukesha |
| Columbia, Dodge, Green Lake, Fond du Lac, and Marquette | Elevate | Beaver Dam |
| Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, and Vilas | North Central Health Care | Wausau |
| Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Trempealeau, and Washburn | Tellurian | La Crosse |
| Adams, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Juneau, Lafayette, Richland, Rock, Sauk, and Vernon | Tellurian | Madison |
People can access these centers by referral through the mental health and substance use emergency hotline for their county of residence. These hotlines are known as county crisis lines. Crisis stabilization facilities are staffed 24/7 by professionals who provide individual counseling, group therapy, medication evaluation and management, and skill-building activities to enhance a patient’s coping strategies and overall well-being. Patients also receive support from people who have experienced similar challenges who are trained to help others on their paths to wellness. Stays range from one day to seven days or more depending on a patient’s health and safety needs. The patient is also connected to community services to ensure they continue to receive the support they need after their stay. This is a voluntary level of care. Patients agree to be admitted and work actively with the service providers to develop their care plans. Three crisis stabilization facilities for youth in Jefferson, Milwaukee, and Wausau provider similar services for young people statewide.
