County Crisis Recovery Center opens in Monroe

On Jan. 15, Union County residents, their families and communities got a new resource to help people with mental health and substance-abuse problems. The new Crisis Recovery Center, 1408 E. ­Franklin Street, Monroe, across from Carolinas Medical Center-Union’s emergency room, provides crisis stabilization and/or detox and already has treated at least eight patients since it opened, according to center officials.

The center was developed by Piedmont Behavioral Healthcare, a state authority that directs services and manages financial resources for mental health/developmental ­disabilities/substance-abuse needs in five area counties, including Union. PBH Chief Operating Officer Pam Shipman said the agency’s priority is to provide resources in counties that don’t have psychiatric units in local hospitals. Daymark Recovery Services in ­Concord operates the facility, which will cost $2 million annually to run, with almost $280,000 coming from Union County.

“The idea is to divert people from hospital emergency rooms unless they have a medical condition requiring treatment,” Shipman said in a statement, noting Union County has high need. “The goal is to ensure that people … have access to crisis center or outpatient treatment when hospital-level of care is not needed. We want to take care of people locally and use the state hospitals only as a last resort.”

The CRC, which cost $2.5 million to create, will offer treatment for mental health and substance-abuse crises, instead of taking those patients to a hospital, where waits can be long and sometimes result in transfer to a state psychiatric hospital. It’s expected to serve about 1,000 people annually from Union, Cabarrus, Davidson, Rowan and Stanly counties.

The center has 16 beds with 24-hour staff, including licensed nursing care, physician supervision, mental health and certified substance-abuse professionals, and crisis workers. Services include comprehensive assessment and screening; facility-based crisis stabilization; involuntary petition evaluations; discharge planning and placement; and transportation.

People 18 years old and up, who usually stay from four to six days but have up to 15, can receive crisis stabilization, medical detox or both. Center staff will connect patients with other community services and follow up after they’re discharged.

The community benefits because it opens emergency room beds and enables police to continue their work, according to PBH board chairman Betty Babb. “We know that recovery is best achieved when people can receive care close to home, where they have the support of their families and friends.”

People in crisis can call the PBH Access Call Center line at 800-939-5911 for an over-the-phone assessment by a trained counselor who will authorize services as needed. No appointment is necessary to go to the center. Calls also can go directly to the Crisis ­Recovery Center at 704-635-2080.