A $1.65 million federal investment will help the Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission in its efforts to open a crisis diversion facility in the Commonwealth’s most populous county. The center would allow individuals in behavioral health crisis to be diverted away from jails and emergency rooms to immediate treatment.
Congresswoman Lori Trahan and Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian, Co-Chair of the Middlesex County Restoration Center Commission, recently discussed plans for the center and announced the funding alongside commission members and local law enforcement partners.
During the roundtable discussion, Trahan and Koutoujian talked about the impact the funding will have. The center’s planned services will include triage and assessment, crisis stabilization beds for up to 24 hours, sober support beds for up to 24 hours, crisis respite beds for up to 2 weeks, a multi-service center with housing navigation, financial services navigation, legal services navigation, and related services, as well as case management and aftercare planning. The center will have a no-wrong-door policy, and allow for both law enforcement drop-off as well as walk-ins from the general public.
The pilot facility would serve as a model for a statewide network of behavioral health crisis and urgent care services.
“For four years advocates, law enforcement and health care leaders have worked collaboratively to establish a comprehensive plan that will improve outcomes for individuals in behavioral health crisis by reimagining how we deliver services,” said Sheriff Koutoujian. “With this federal funding, we take a major step towards implementing this critical project that will make our communities healthier and safer.”
In addition to Sheriff Koutoujian, the commission is co-chaired by Dr. Danna Mauch, the President and CEO of the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH).