PITTSBURG, Kan. — Crawford County Mental Health Center has announced plans to open a new Crisis Intervention Center in Girard, Kansas, expanding access to timely, specialized care for adults experiencing psychiatric emergencies.
Anticipated to begin operating in late 2026, the 16-bed facility will serve adults ages 18 and older, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services will be available regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
The Crisis Intervention Center, or CIC, will provide a higher level of care than what is currently available regionally while helping individuals remain closer to their families, established providers, and community support systems. For some individuals, the CIC may provide an appropriate alternative to receiving care at a state psychiatric hospital.
According to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services’ June 2026 Monthly Census Report, the average wait for admission to Osawatomie State Hospital was 182.5 hours, or more than seven and a half days. The CIC will help address the impact of waiting for state hospital admission by providing an appropriate setting where some individuals can receive care closer to home. In some cases, timely stabilization and treatment may also mean that admission to a state psychiatric hospital is no longer necessary.
“When someone is experiencing a psychiatric emergency, they deserve timely care in a setting designed to support their safety, dignity, and recovery,” said Bailey Hennen, director of Crawford County Mental Health Center’s Crisis Intervention Center. “The CIC will allow more individuals to receive specialized support closer to home while remaining connected to the providers, families, and communities that will continue supporting them after they leave.”
Crawford County Mental Health Center’s continuum of care currently includes outpatient therapy and medication services, community-based supports, 24/7 crisis response, and residential substance use treatment. The CIC will expand that continuum by adding a new level of psychiatric emergency care.
Individuals admitted to the CIC will receive stabilization, treatment, and support in a safe, therapeutic environment centered on their dignity and individual needs. Following stabilization, staff will work with community providers and existing support systems to help each person transition safely to an appropriate level of care within their community.
For some individuals, the CIC will offer a treatment-focused alternative to waiting in an emergency department, jail, or another setting that may not be equipped to provide the specialized care they need. It will also give emergency medical services, law enforcement agencies, and other health and public safety partners another option when responding to psychiatric emergencies.
“This is about creating a more connected regional response for people experiencing some of their most difficult moments,” said Amy Glines, interim executive director of Crawford County Mental Health Center. “By working with community providers and regional partners, we can help individuals access the right level of care and support a safe transition back into their communities.”
Access to the CIC will involve a referral-based screening process coordinated with regional partners.
The facility will be licensed and regulated by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) and will be owned, operated, and staffed by Crawford County Mental Health Center. The CIC is expected to create approximately 25 new positions in the region.
The opening of the CIC will not replace or change any 24/7 crisis services currently available through Crawford County Mental Health Center. The Crisis SAVE Line, Mobile Crisis Response Team, and other crisis services and programs will continue operating as they do today.
Anyone in need of immediate crisis support can call the Crisis SAVE Line at 620-232-SAVE (7283) or call or text 988 at any time.
This project is financially supported by KDADS. Additional information and updates about the Crisis Intervention Center will be shared as preparations continue.
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About Crawford County Mental Health Center
Crawford County Mental Health Center has served Crawford County and the surrounding area since 1961. The organization provides a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use services for adults, children, families, and veterans, including 24/7 crisis support. To learn more, call 620-231-5130 or visit www.crawfordmentalhealth.org
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