CHARDON, Ohio — An expanded residential mental health facility is opening Friday in Geauga County, increasing local capacity for people who need intensive, short-term support outside of a hospital setting.
The county’s Transitional Living Center recently completed a major expansion that more than doubles its size and increases capacity from nine beds to 16, according to a press release from the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services.
The facility is designed for individuals experiencing mental health challenges who need more support than outpatient care can provide, but who do not require hospitalization.
As a Class One residential facility — the highest level of community-based residential care designated by the state — the center provides 24-hour supervision and structured treatment.
Services include counseling, psychiatric care, medication management, case management, and peer support, along with group activities aimed at building daily living skills and stability.
The additional beds are intended to help address gaps in care, particularly for residents transitioning out of psychiatric hospitalization or experiencing a mental health crisis that can be managed in a supervised setting.
The center is owned by the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services and operated by Ravenwood Health, the county’s largest behavioral health provider.
The expansion was funded through a state grant, local funding, and federal pandemic relief money from the American Rescue Plan Act.
In addition to increasing capacity, the project added larger shared spaces, including a kitchen, group room, outdoor gathering areas, and a dedicated space for family reunification.
“This expansion represents more than just additional space; it reflects a commitment to meeting the needs of our community,” Christine Lakomiak, executive director of the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, said in a statement. “It means more individuals can receive care close to home, stay connected to their loved ones, and access the support they need without unnecessary hospitalization.”