SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KTIV) – The 2025 Nebraska Mental Health and Substance Use Research Study shows one in eight emergency department visits involves a psychiatric or substance abuse concern.
In January 2026, South Sioux City’s Heartland Counseling Services was designated as one of seven certified community behavioral health clinics in Nebraska. We are taking a closer look at the new Heartland facility that promises to be a resource for mental health and addiction treatment in Siouxland.
On Wednesday, staff and community members broke ground on the new $5.5 million Crisis Stabilization & Detox Center. It will house 12 mental health beds, and 12 detox beds. It will also add 45 new jobs to Northeast Nebraska.
On Wednesday, staff and community members broke ground on the new $5.5 million Crisis Stabilization & Detox Center.(KTIV)
Of the $5.5 million cost, $4.5 million comes from an infrastructure opioid grant from the state of Nebraska. Heartland raised the other $1 million through donations and grants from the state and region.
This new crisis stabilization unit and detox center in South Sioux City, Nebraska, under Heartland Counseling Services, will be called Waypoint.(KTIV)
This new crisis stabilization unit and detox center will be called Waypoint.
“A waypoint is a marker on a journey, a place to pause, rest, and find bearings before continuing forward,” said Heartland Counseling Center’s Executive Director, Jennifer Jackson.
Staff says it’s a first-of-its-kind facility for the area that patients can use, instead of driving to Omaha or Sioux Falls for similar services.
“Thanks so much to all the supporters and to our community for making this dream a reality,” Jackson said.
On Wednesday, staff and community members broke ground on the new $5.5 million Crisis Stabilization & Detox Center.(KTIV)
It will have 24/7 staffing between RNs, a director, therapists, caseworkers, peer support providers, and navigators.
Jackson explained, “Those navigators actually will drive to the hospital and pick up the clients and then bring them over. So we have a very strong partnership with UnityPoint, and moving forward, we’ll be working a lot with them as well.”
Instead of turning to emergency rooms or law enforcement, individuals and families will have a local option designed specifically for stabilization, dignity, and recovery.
Barnes added, “If they are dealing with some more indirect suicidal thoughts, a lot of hopelessness, it may be a really short stay. It could be 12 to 24 hours, and sometimes that’s all a person needs in that interim to access the other services that are out there and feel supported in that time.”
“We’ll have social detox, we’ll have medically monitored detox, we’re going to have respite services,” Jackson said, naming a few services. “The state of Nebraska actually did a cost report, and they anticipate we’re going to save the state $1.4 million in year one and $1.7 million in year two.”
This project signifies a significant impact in the community, wanting to bridge a gap in services.
Wednesday served as a starting point to expand access, strengthen crisis response, and help families navigate some of their hardest days.
Jackson added, “It was very humbling to see the support. And we do have a great need in our community for detox services.”
Thursday, Feb. 19, depending on the weather, the cement will be poured for the facility. Officials hope to be able to move into the facility in the next 9 to 10 months.
The funding aspect: for the patient
If a patient comes into Waypoint and they have insurance, they will bill their insurance.
Jackson explained, “If they have no insurance, then we, if they’re in the state of Nebraska, and then they fall within the guidelines, then Region 4 will step in and pay for that. If they’re from Iowa and have no health insurance at all, that’s where we’ll have to raise money. That’s where the fundraisers will come in and the non-profit piece of it.”
She said they work with 74 different insurance companies right now. As for sustaining operations, they will rely on long-term reimbursement from Medicaid, from private insurance, and from state funds.
Who can it help?
This is for the whole tristate, not just Nebraskans.
When asked for an example of who this might serve, Jackson said, “Let’s say somebody is drinking too much and they just want to stop, but they just cannot. This may be a safe place where they can come, and they can be monitored 24/7. They can stay a couple of days until we get them into treatment. Then we’ll help them get to treatment. That’s where those navigators come in, and we’ll actually drive them to treatment.”
Heartland Counseling Services offers many different services.
CRISIS HOTLINE NUMBERS:
Siouxland Area: Burt, Dakota, Dixon, Thurston, Wayne Counties(402) 494-7655 or (877) 958-7776 Sandhills Area: Antelope, Boyd, Brown, Cedar, Cherry, Holt, Keya Paha, Knox, Pierce, Rock Counties(402) 336-9928 or (877) 488-9928
Heartland says on its website, “We provide 24-hour crisis coverage. This is a short-term service which aims to assist adults and youth who are in a crisis, as defined as, suicidal, homicidal, and/or psychotic. The Crisis Responder will screen all crisis calls to assess the severity of the problem. If the Crisis Responder identifies the problem as severe, the Crisis Responder will contact the Licensed Mental Health Therapist on call to request a crisis assessment be conducted.”
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