Riverside County Holds Ribbon Cutting for Mental Health Crisis Center

From the County of Riverside: The Riverside County Board of Supervisors, together with Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health and Riverside County Economic Development Agency held a ribbon cutting for the Mental Health Crisis Center at 9890 County Farm Road in Riverside.

Speakers at the Mental Health Crisis Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony were Jeff Van Wagenen, Managing Director, Riverside County Economic Development Agency; Kevin Jeffries, First District Riverside County Supervisor; Zareh Sarrafian, CEO, Riverside University Health System; Steve Steinberg, Director, Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health; Josh Maher, City of Riverside; David Covington, CEO and President, RI International; and Faith Richie, Senior Vice President of Development, Telecare. After the ceremony, tours of the new Mental Health Crisis Center were available.

The center is made-up of three fundamental facilities: A 7,000 sq ft Administrative building, a 5,600 sq ft Mental Health 24/7 Urgent Care and 10,000 sq ft Specialty Mental Health Crisis Residential Treatment services facility. The Mental Health Service Center program goals are to provide voluntary crisis support that will help persons experiencing a mental health crisis with an alternative to locked, involuntary inpatient care. The programs are designed to both prevent hospital admissions as well as a resource for individuals leaving inpatient care that may benefit for additional short term intensive care before continuing on to their longer term living environment. Both will be certified to provide Medi-Cal reimbursable services, providing full-scope specialty mental health services. The separate treatment teams at each facility will include psychiatrists, licensed therapists, case managers and peer counselors.

“This campus represents a big step forward in our ability to help people experiencing a mental health crisis,” said Steve Steinberg, Director of Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health. “It brings together the elements of professional care, friendly people, and a welcoming setting to support people at a time of crisis. We are very fortunate to have this facility in this community.”

For more information about the Mental Health Crisis Center please call: Tom Peterson at (951) 538 – 6791.

Photos courtesy of the County of Riverside