Behavioral Crisis Center adds local employment

Bonneville County Commissioners announced Thursday that Rehabilitation Health Services in Idaho Falls will be handling social work and clinical services at the Behavioral Crisis Center.

“This is the first phase of bids,” said Commissioner Roger Christensen. “We’re getting very positive feedback from the community. Many organizations want to be a part of this process and support the facility.”

Rehabilitation Health Services is accepting applications for more employees as they take on this new responsibility. Christensen said community support was a huge factor in the state Legislature’s decision to place the facility in Bonneville County. Commissioners have hired a coordinator, Brenda Price, to oversee the facility’s progress. She says things have run smoothly.

“It’s been very encouraging because we’ve had such great support from all the providers, whether they’ve bid on this or just part of the process in bringing it here,” said Price. “There has been a lot of interest and it’s really going to fill a gap in our community.”

In June Idaho Gov. Butch Otter announced Bonneville County would house the state’s first behavioral crisis center. The committee first considered three crisis centers throughout the state, but decided it would weigh the effectiveness of a pilot facility instead.

Remodeling and construction for the crisis center started Sept. 8 at the old Marie Callendars building, located at 530 E. Anderson St. Upon completion, the facility will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round.

The center is expected to open its doors in mid-November and will be free to the public.