Demand is high at Franklin County's new Crisis Care Center
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The Crisis Care Center entrance at 465 Harmon Ave. Photos: Courtesy of CKP Studio/Cory Klein Photography
Franklin County's Crisis Care Center helped more than 4,400 people in its first eight months of operations, officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: The center gives adults facing behavioral health crises and addiction an alternative to hospital emergency rooms.
- As Columbus continues expanding its 911 response teams beyond police, having a centralized place for people to receive treatment is key to making the system work.
Catch up quick: The Franklinton center opened in September, supported by a levy voters passed in November funding the Franklin County Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board.
- The goal is to offer comprehensive care under one roof, including 24/7 urgent care, substance abuse treatment, a family resource center and a pharmacy.
- The national nonprofit Recovery Innovations provides services for up to 40 people.
The latest: Thanks to the levy, plans remain on track to expand services later this year to 60 people and open a 16-room unit for inpatient stays in 2027.
- Currently, patients can stay in observation for up to 23 hours.
- After that, they're referred to other community health partners.
State of play: Columbus is in the early stages of creating a new 911 response team without police to respond to behavioral health emergencies, after voters approved a city charter amendment May 5.
- That may affect how people arrive at the center, but it won't change their experience, ADAMH spokesperson Erich Hiner says.
By the numbers: From September to April, 55% of patients walked in on their own and 45% came via transport with first responders, Hiner says.
- Walk-ins keep rising, making up 67% of April visitors.
- Most people are able to get the help they need, with less than 2% requiring a transfer elsewhere.
The bottom line: "Having all these things under one roof is novel, and it's really promising for the well-being of our neighbors who need help," Hiner says.
If you or someone you know needs support now, visit the Crisis Care Center at 465 Harmon Ave., call or text 988, or chat with someone at 988lifeline.org.
