Partnership to open Pocatello Crisis Center
Bannock County and Portneuf Health Trust announced Tuesday that a Behavioral Health Community Crisis Center will open next March.
The center will serve the Region 6 area, including Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida and Power Counties.
Bannock County solicited bids for a provider to implement and operate the Crisis Center. Rehabilitative Health Services, which has operated the Idaho Falls crisis center for several years, was the successful bidder.
Portneuf Health Trust will provide newly renovated clinic space in their new City Center Campus at 1001 North 7th Avenue in Pocatello. As part of a joint effort, the trust will design, renovate and lease the space to RHS at no-cost. RHS will pay utilities and associated maintenance costs.
It is estimated that the health trust’s contribution of rent will total over $130,000 annually. “We are very excited to work with Rehabilitative Health Services team as they understand the integrated model we are striving toward” states Shaun Menchaca, President and CEO of Portneuf Health Trust.
The Crisis Center will operate 24-7, 365 days a year to assist adults in crisis from mental health challenges to substance abuse issues. The center’s charge will be to stabilize patients and connect them with community resources to help deal with their situation.
The Idaho Legislature established the Behavioral Health Community Crisis Act in 2014. Four crisis centers were established. The first was Region 7 in Idaho Falls in 2014. Region 1 opened in northern Idaho in 2015 in Coeur d’Alene, Region 5 opened in Twin Falls in 2016 and Region 4 opened in Boise in December 2017.
Admittance to a crisis center is voluntary and designed to help people get the assistance they need without going a hospital emergency room or being taken to jail. Mental health services are delivered in a way to support recovery and resiliency.
