TDMHSAS Announces Grant Recipients for New Children’s Mental Health Crisis Facilities

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) is excited to announce Community Mental Health Centers are receiving grant contracts to open two new Crisis Stabilization Units and walk-in centers for children. TDMHSAS will work with Mental Health Cooperative in Nashville and Alliance Healthcare Services in Memphis to open these new options to families with children in crisis.

Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) provide intensive, short-term stabilization to a person experiencing a mental health emergency. Walk-in crisis centers offer in-person assessment, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for those experiencing a mental health emergency. Both services are available free of charge, regardless of insurance coverage.

Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly have provided $5 million in new state funding for the creation of these centers. Knoxville is home to the state’s first children’s CSU/WIC, operated by the McNabb Center and funded by a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant and state infrastructure dollars.

Data from the Knoxville pilot show both a significant need for these services and high-quality outcomes for children and families. Nearly 2,200 children and youth received services at the walk-in center (November 2021-February 2024) and more than 700 were served by the Crisis Stabilization Unit (June 2022-February 2024). For children and youth served by the CSU, 94% were diverted from hospital or residential care, and most impactful for families in crisis, the opening of the Children’s CSU reduced the average time spent by a third by families to wait in the emergency room for placement.

“Responding to the children’s mental health crisis continues to be a pivotal moment in behavioral health, and with this investment, Tennessee continues to play a leading role in providing the right intervention at the right time and in the right place for our families and our children. said TDMHSAS Commissioner Marie Williams, LCSW. “We are so grateful to Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly for this funding, as well as to our incredible community partners who will do this work. »

A recent study ranked Tennessee first for access and cost of mental health care and for lower rates of mental health problems among children and youth. The current fiscal year TDMHSAS budget contains more than $52.7 million dedicated to mental health and addiction services for children and youth. Investments made in this area under the Lee administration include:

• $250 million K-12 Mental Health Trust Fund
• $15 million School Behavioral Health Liaisons – program expanded multiple times with investments in FY21 ($3 million), FY23 ($4 million) and FY24 ($8 million).
• $7.6 million behavioral health safety net for uninsured children (FY21). These services include assessment, therapy, care coordination, medication management, family support services, pharmacy assistance and coordination.
• $6.5 million Tennessee Resilience Project (FY22) – Funding for early childhood mental health, school programs and enhanced crisis care.
• $625,000 TN Suicide Prevention Network Expansion (FY20)
• $500,000 to promote the mental health of youth and young adults (FY20)

Learn more about TDMHSAS services for children, youth, young adults and families at TN.gov/behavioral-health/children.