Appropriations Committee discusses mental crisis center

The Idaho Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee met with Bonneville County officials at Harriman State Park Monday to discuss behavioral crisis center advancements.

The administrator of behavioral health for the state Department of Health and Welfare, Ross Edmunds, said Bonneville County residents were among the most interested in a fully operational crisis center. This interest was the deciding factor, as community support is instrumental in keeping a government-funded institution up and running.

“Where people go right now is jail or the emergency department, and those are expensive interventions for people who don’t need that level of care,” said Edmunds.

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.

“The committee is very open to the concept of two additional centers, if it (the Bonneville County facility) indeed demonstrates the success that we believe it will,” said Edmunds.

Bonneville County Commissioner Roger Christensen said the community has been very supportive financially. He said residents understand that there is a lot at stake.

“We feel the weight of that responsibility, so we want to make sure we do it right and make sure it’s cost-effective for the taxpayers and serve the purpose it was intended for,” said Christensen.

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.