NEWS RELEASE
New York State Announces Opening of $9.6 Million Intensive Crisis Stabilization Center on Long Island
CN Guidance & Counseling’s Community Crisis Center to Provide Stabilization Services in Nassau and Suffolk Counties
New Facility Provides an Alternative to Emergency Room Care for New Yorkers Experiencing a Behavioral Health Crisis
The state Office of Mental Health today announced the opening of a new facility to provide urgent treatment to New Yorkers experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis so they may avoid unnecessary emergency room visits. Developed with $9.6 million in state funding and licensed in partnership with the Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the Community Crisis Center in the Nassau County hamlet of Hicksville will provide urgent behavioral health care services to help stabilize individuals and connect them to other community-based services and supports.
“The CN Guidance & Counseling’s Community Crisis Center will provide a safe and supportive environment where individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis can receive quality care in a welcoming and healing setting with the goal of continuing their recovery journey,” Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “These Crisis Centers represent yet another way Governor Hochul’s focus on mental health is providing greater access to care for all New Yorkers.”
Operated by CN Guidance & Counseling, the center will operate 24-hours per day and seven days per week, providing screenings, assessments, therapeutic interventions, peer support, ongoing observation, care collaboration, and discharge planning. The new facility will also coordinate with local mobile crisis providers, and law enforcement, as well as community treatment and support services.
The Community Crisis Center is dually certified by OMH and OASAS to provide an expertly staffed, effective, and cost-efficient alternative to often-stressful hospital emergency departments. Located at 950 South Oyster Bay Rd., the center will maintain collaborative relationships within the state’s system of care to ensure the individuals they treat can access follow-up services after leaving.
OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said, “Crisis stabilization centers offer people in need immediate access to help and support, any time of day or night. These programs provide a vital connection to individuals experiencing a substance use or mental health crisis, helping them access lifesaving care close to where they live without having to wait. We have seen success from this initiative across the state, and we look forward to the benefits this new facility will provide to those on Long Island.”
CN Guidance Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Friedman said, “The Community Crisis Center represents a groundbreaking approach to urgent behavioral health care on Long Island. This facility provides individuals in crisis with a dedicated, 24/7 alternative to emergency rooms, offering immediate, compassionate support and resources to foster hope, healing, and stability. Together with our state, local and regional partners, we are removing barriers to care and ensuring those in need have access to timely, life-saving services.”
CN Guidance was awarded $8.6 million in state aid and start-up funding to undertake the project and $1 million in capital funding to develop the center. The facility is expected to serve up to 2,000 New Yorkers annually and can accommodate up to 24 individuals per day.
Crisis stabilization centers provide voluntary urgent treatment for individuals experiencing symptoms of mental health or substance use crises and needing immediate stabilization or treatment. Crisis stabilization centers provide peer and recovery-oriented support services, in addition to referral and follow-up services.
The Community Crisis Center is the fourth intensive crisis stabilization center to open, joining Helio Health Crisis Stabilization Center in Syracuse, the Champlain Valley Family Center in Plattsburgh and the Family Service League in Hauppauge; People USA also operates a supportive crisis stabilization center in Poughkeepsie. OMH has awarded more than $75 million to develop 12 intensive crisis stabilization centers statewide.
In addition to utilizing these centers, New Yorkers experiencing or who know someone experiencing a behavioral health issue may contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which connects them to trained crisis counselors 24/7 to help those thinking about suicide, struggling with substance use, a mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. New York 988 call centers received nearly 46,000 calls in October alone, making it the second most-active service nationally.
Likewise, New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). Find available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care on the OASAS website.
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