A Honesdale facility expected to open as soon as next week will offer patients timely mental health support and access to a longer stay if needed.
The Northeast Regional Crisis Stabilization Center, 100 Park St., run by the Center for Community Resources, will deliver 24/7 telephone, mobile and walk-in crisis services to all ages.
Since 2021, the Center for Community Resources has partnered with the Wayne County Office of Behavioral and Development Programs & Early Intervention to provide crisis intervention services and support to the community. The center also partnered with Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health and Development Services to make the new facility a reality.
“Back in 2022, we applied for a grant in conjunction with Carbon-Monroe-Pike Mental Health and Developmental Services, and we received $5.9 million to operate the center,” said John Nebzydoski, behavioral programs director for Wayne County. “We joined together to apply for that grant in hopes of opening this crisis center, which we’re marketing as comparable to urgent care for physical health. You can go here, as long as you’re in reasonable physical health, and receive quick treatment and crisis stabilization rather than sit in an emergency department for sometimes lengthy periods of time. We’re hoping with the ease of access and the beautiful new facility that people will be a little more apt to get mental health care when in need.”
In addition to 24/7 walk-in service, the Northeast Regional Crisis Stabilization Center will feature a crisis residential program with eight beds, providing adult patients a place to stay and receive support from mental health professionals for up to five days. (Courtesy Center for Community Resources)
A kitchen and seating area inside the new Northeast Regional Crisis Stabilization Center, 100 Park St., Honesdale. (Courtesy Center for Community Resources)
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In addition to 24/7 walk-in service, the Northeast Regional Crisis Stabilization Center will feature a crisis residential program with eight beds, providing adult patients a place to stay and receive support from mental health professionals for up to five days. (Courtesy Center for Community Resources)
Nebzydoski said Wayne County needed to secure additional money to buy and transform the property because federal restrictions prevented use of the grant for those purposes.
The county rounded up about $3 million, between the federal HRSA appropriation through then-U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, another grant from the Moses Taylor Foundation, and other sources, Nebzydoski said.
“We bought the building, a former doctor’s office, last year and started the process of design and bidding,” he said. “Construction took about a year and we got our certificate of occupancy last week.”
When all programs are up and running, the facility will employ about 40 people, Nebzydoski said.
Victoria Toomey, outreach coordinator for Center for Community Resources, believes more people have been seeking treatment as the conversation around mental health evolves.
“In the past, a lot of people would kind of just try to get through it,” she said. “I think more and more people are realizing that your mental health is part of your physical health, too.”
In addition to the 24/7 walk-in service, the center will feature a crisis residential program with eight beds, providing adult patients a place to stay and receive support from mental health professionals for up to five days, officials said.
“If somebody isn’t safe to go home from the crisis center quite yet, but they don’t necessarily need to be in a locked-in patient psychiatric unit, they can receive care in Honesdale, rather than being shipped out to Moosic or Kingston, the nearest psychiatric hospitals, or ending up in the Philadelphia area,” Nebzydoski said.
Nebzydoski noted county officials took steps to ensure everyone in need of mental health services will be able to access them.
“We budgeted quite a bit for transportation because we recognize the challenges of a rural area,” he said. “We purchased some vehicles and plan on getting people rides to and from the facility to lessen that burden.”
An open house set for Friday at noon will allow community members to meet the treatment team and tour the facility, Toomey said.
Toomey stressed there won’t be any interruptions for patients during the transition to the new facility,
“Until we are open in the new building, our services can be accessed at 616 Main St. in Honesdale,” she said.
The Wayne County Crisis Line number, 833-557-3224, also remains available 24 hours a day.