County of Sonoma Crisis Stabilization Unit reopens after environmental hazard closure

Six months after the County’s emergency psychiatric department, known as the Crisis Stabilization Unit located at 2225 Challenger Way in Santa Rosa, was closed due to a mold outbreak followed by significant roof leaks, the unit has reopened and is up and running as of Saturday, Feb. 8.

“After extensive remediation and construction work, we finally received the news that it was safe for our staff to return to the building,” said Jennifer Solito, the interim director of Sonoma County Department of Health Services. “This has been a long road, much longer than any of us expected, and I deeply appreciate the support and patience from our local service partners and our community throughout this process.”

Operated by the behavioral health division of County’s Department of Health Services, the Crisis Stabilization Unit provides services to any Sonoma County adult, youth or child in psychiatric crisis 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services include intervention, assessment, medication support and up to 23 hours of care for individuals in an acute mental health crisis. For those requiring longer-term support, referrals are then made to crisis residential units or inpatient mental health facilities.

“The Crisis Stabilization Unit plays a vital role in providing members of our community in crisis with a local pathway to receiving psychiatric services and potentially avoiding a lengthy psychiatric hospitalization,” said David Evans, acute and forensics section manager in the behavioral health division of DHS.

Unlike hospital emergency departments, the CSU has staff with specific expertise in managing mental health crises and can allow the time to manage psychiatric crises and serve individuals in the least restrictive setting. Now that the unit is back up and running, it is again alleviating the number of individuals in mental health crisis in hospitals both by quickly taking transfers from the emergency departments and by accepting direct referrals from law enforcement and/or mobile crisis teams. 

“The reopening of the Crisis Stabilization Unit is a critical step in ensuring that those in crisis receive timely and compassionate care,” said Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “Sonoma County remains committed to strengthening mental health resources for our community.”

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Media Contact:
Sheri Cardo, DHS Communications Specialist
Sheri.Cardo@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-8619