Craig Crisis Care Center
The Craig Crisis Care Center (previously called the Birmingham Crisis Care Center or Alabama Region II Crisis Care Center) is a mental health crisis center operated by the Jefferson-St Clair-Birmingham Mental Health Authority at 401 Beacon Parkway West. The 2023 opening of the Care Center was delayed due to difficulties filling nursing positions.
It is the fourth of four Crisis Care Centers funded by a $7 million grant from the Alabama Department of Mental Health. Sabrina Scott is the Crisis Care Center Director. The center was named in honor of long-time executive director Richard Craig.
The center admits adults actively experiencing mental health or substance abuse crises, as an alternative to emergency room treatment or incarceration. It is open around the clock and has 32 beds for stays of up to 23 hours, and 16 beds for 1-3 day stays. Staff are able to connect clients to psychiatric or medical care when necessary. Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputies and other law enforcement officers have received training on how to make use of the center. Although the center's focus is the three-county area served by JBS, it serves as the primary crisis center for a 20-county region covering much of central and west Alabama. In addition to beds, the center can provide food, showers and clean clothes.
References
- Yurkanin, Amy (March 18, 2021) "After losing out to other Alabama cities, Birmingham area tries for mental health crisis center." The Birmingham News
- Bailey, Muriel (October 5, 2021) "Mental health crisis center set to open in Birmingham, operate 24/7." ABC3340.com
- Yurkanin, Amy (May 7, 2022) "Center to address mental health crisis readies fall opening in Birmingham." The Birmingham News
- Gann, Heather (October 7, 2022) "Birmingham crisis center named after longtime mental health advocate." The Birmingham News
- Thrailkill, Laurel (January 26, 2023) "In photos: Bham's new multimillion-dollar mental health crisis care center." Birmingham Business Journal
- Gann, Heather (February 27, 2023) "Nursing shortage delays opening of new Craig Crisis Care Center." The Birmingham News
External links
- Crisis Care Center at JBS Mental Health Authority website