The South Central Crisis Center reopened its doors today through new operation under Horizon Homes, Inc., a well-established local provider of adult mental health services.  Provided services include housing, treatment and rehabilitation options.  The reopening of the crisis center is possible due to the partnership between Horizon Homes, Inc., the South Central Community-based Initiative (comprised of 10 South Central Minnesota counties) and the Department of Human Services.

The Crisis Center has historically been operated by the State of Minnesota’s Department of Human Services (State Operated Services), but funding shortages resulted in the closure of this facility earlier this spring.  The former South Central Crisis Center offered short-term residential crisis beds, outpatient crisis stabilization, and psychiatric urgent care services for adults with mental illness.  Having served 888 individuals in 2009 out of the 521 Pfau Street location in Mankato, the loss of such a facility would have a devastating impact on consumers of the region.  The result would have been an increase in more intensive interventions, such as emergency department and hospital care, and law enforcement intervention.

Upon announcement of the facility closure this spring, regional human service agencies worked together to advocate that the services would eventually reopen and remain available for those experiencing a mental health crisis.  Through legislative action, limited funding was secured to preserve these services.  The funding, allowed the regional partners an opportunity to create a redesigned crisis service model.  Adjustments such as moving psychiatric urgent care from the Crisis Center to other locations, the addition of a mobile crisis team and 24/7 crisis phone line, and changes in staffing patterns will allow for the capture of insurance funding to support this effective, sustainable model of crisis services with less dependence on state and local funds.

The South Central Crisis Center/Horizon Homes, Inc. provides a 12-bed short term crisis unit, outpatient crisis stabilization services, a crisis line, and a mobile crisis response team.  Services at the crisis center are available to any adult experiencing a mental health crisis.  The mobile crisis response team is available from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. daily and will travel up to 30 miles from the Mankato facility.  To learn more about services at the Crisis Center, call (507) 344-0621.