Children's Service Center expands crisis intervention services - Yahoo News

Oct. 31—WILKES-BARRE — Effective Nov. 1, services at Children's Service Center in Wilkes-Barre will implement expanded hours for children and adolescent crisis support, including phone, walk-in and mobile support for Luzerne and Wyoming counties.

Children's Service Center Wednesday announced enhancements to its Crisis Intervention Service, extending walk-in hours and increasing availability of mobile crisis assessments for individuals and families in the two counties.

According to CSC President and CEO Mike Hopkins, community-based Crisis Intervention is essential to providing the full range of needed services, along with mental health and substance use disorder programs, at Children's Service Center and Robinson Counseling Center.

"While serving more than 11,000 clients annually, our goal with Crisis Intervention is to provide immediate assessment, comfort and support, making a rapid connection to appropriate treatment," Hopkins said. "The services are designed to prevent hospitalization, and ensure appropriate follow-up to address the long-term health needs of individuals and families."

Hopkins said the services provide rapid response to mental health situations which threaten the well-being of the individual in crisis, or others.

Beginning Nov. 1, Hopkins said children and adolescents, as well as adult clients of Robinson Counseling Center, will be seen on the CSC Wilkes-Barre campus, in addition to telephone and mobile crisis support.

"Accessing crisis services should be done in the safest, most comfortable place for clients and the families," said Crisis Services Director Elizabeth Hollinger. "Whether it is the Children's Service Center office, in the client's home, at school or another community location, a crisis assessment should minimize disruption to normal routines."

Hollinger said CSC's crisis clinicians provide interventions and support to resolve crisis situations, while offering referrals to appropriate outpatient services, including community-based services.

Last year, Hopkins said Children's Service Center responded to 1,957 crises, providing immediate treatment and support to diffuse or resolve precipitating stress-related to disturbed thought, behavior, mood, or social relationships.

Mental Health Crisis Intervention includes assessment, counseling, screening and disposition services, which are commonly considered appropriate to the provision of mental health crisis intervention.

Founded in 1862, Children's Service Center and its adult care affiliate, Robinson Counseling Center, operate a comprehensive behavioral health network to address mental health, substance use disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and primary care.

More than 11,000 children and adults receive care annually at offices in Wilkes-Barre, Tunkhannock, Honesdale, Hazleton, and Danville, as well as home and school settings across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.