Trinity Health Grand Rapids and Network180 Held Wall-Breaking Ceremony for Behavioral Health Crisis Center

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (May 22, 2023) – Today Network180 and Trinity Health Grand Rapids hosted a wall-breaking ceremony to kick-off renovation on the space that will become the Behavioral Health Crisis Center (BHCC). Targeted to open in early 2024, the BHCC will provide walk-in behavioral health services 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The heart of the BHCC is the Crisis Stabilization Unit, which will allow for rapidly accessible intensive treatment that can stabilize most behavioral health crises within 24 hours.

Since 2017, representatives from health care systems, education, law enforcement, government, insurance providers, community advocates and the mental health system have worked together to develop a continuum of innovative crisis mental health and substance use disorder services for West Michigan residents. Together, through diligent collaboration and teamwork, this group of community stakeholders have successfully established the BHCC.

"Through community collaboration, the Behavioral Health Crisis Center has become a reality in Kent County. Countless organizations and individuals worked tirelessly over the years to develop comprehensive, multi-disciplinary mental health services for our residents,” said Kent County Board of Commissioners Chair Stan Stek. “It is a true testament to the spirit of our community that we can come together and achieve great things. We thank everyone who helped make this a reality and we look forward to continuing this journey of ensuring every person in Kent County has access to the mental health care they deserve."

“The result of their work is the creation of a ‘no wrong door’ system of crisis care for all of Kent County’s adults, regardless of income, insurance type or zip code,” said Bill Ward, executive director of Network180. “When open, the Behavioral Health Crisis Center will be available 24/7. A person experiencing a crisis will be assessed in a safe environment and connected to the right level of care.”

The Crisis Stabilization Unit, the primary feature of the BHCC, will serve up to 16 people at a time. Today, people experiencing a mental health crisis often end up in emergency rooms seeking help. Medical clearance is necessary to find placement in a psychiatric facility. If a placement isn’t open, the wait can be very traumatizing for the individual and places great strain on health care workers.

Ward continued, “We know most people in crisis can be stabilized within 24 hours. With the Crisis Stabilization Unit, a person in crisis can remain in a safe, secure and supportive setting for up to 72 hours. Our ability to combine the behavioral health expertise of Network180 with the medical expertise of Trinity Health Grand Rapids will allow for individuals requiring a higher level of care to be assessed and receive the medical clearance they need in order to get rapid access to a more intensive level of care when necessary.”

In addition to walk-in appointments, the BHCC will have a secure bay for law enforcement and EMS to bring people in for help. By diverting people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis away from jail and emergency rooms and connecting them to the behavioral services they need, the BHCC will reduce the strain placed on emergency departments and law enforcement.

“There is nothing else in our community, or in our state, like this revolutionary model of medical and behavioral health care, created by a unique collaboration of public and private entities,” said Matt Biersack, MD, president of Trinity Health Grand Rapids. “In fact, others are looking at our Behavioral Health Crisis Center model to see if it may work for their communities.”

With a target opening at the beginning of 2024, the BHCC will be a hub for connecting people in crisis to the right care, at the right intensity, at the right time, offering “no wrong door” access to care in Kent County and West Michigan.