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Resource Library
Explore insights and best practices from crisis response thought leaders and experts
Featured Reports
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View ReportCommunity Impact Report
How a better crisis response model is easing pressure on systems and helping thousands get back to their lives.
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View ReportBehavioral Health True Costs Report
The true cost of defaulting to ERs and incarceration for behavioral health crises, and why it doesn't work.
Featured Resources
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The federal policy door for behavioral health is open, and counties are ready to walk through it
County officials don't usually get to say the federal policy stars are aligning, but at the recent National Association for Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, that's exactly what the message was, and the evidence backs it up.March 2026 -
The federal policy door for behavioral health is open, and counties are ready to walk through it
County officials don't usually get to say the federal policy stars are aligning, but at the recent National Association for Counties (NACo) ...March 2026 -
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Prince William County is changing what mental health crisis response looks like
Insights and early outcomes shared during a recent panel at the National Association of Counties (NACo) highlight how Prince William ...March 2026 -
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Rethinking post-naloxone care: turning a life-saving moment into a path forward
Naloxone reverses opioid overdoses, but the care someone receives after that moment matters just as much. In King County, Connections ...January 2026
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The federal policy door for behavioral health is open, and counties are ready to walk through it
County officials don't usually get to say the federal policy stars are aligning, but at the recent National Association for Counties (NACo) Legislative ... March 2026
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Prince William County is changing what mental health crisis response looks like
Insights and early outcomes shared during a recent panel at the National Association of Counties (NACo) highlight how Prince William County, Virginia, is ... March 2026
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Rethinking post-naloxone care: turning a life-saving moment into a path forward
Naloxone reverses opioid overdoses, but the care someone receives after that moment matters just as much. In King County, Connections Health Solutions and ... January 2026%20(9).png)
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How partnerships make crisis care work
No organization can deliver effective crisis care alone. At Connections, we've learned that the operational reality of crisis stabilization depends entirely on ... January 2026%20(8).png)
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Becker’s CEO+CFO Roundtable on Behavioral Health Strategy: The financial case for crisis care
Behavioral health has long been caught between two imperatives: delivering exceptional care and ensuring financial viability. At Connections Health Solutions, ... January 2026%20(5).png)
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Breaking ground on a new era of crisis care in Montgomery County
Monday, November 17, 2025 marked a significant milestone for behavioral health care in Pennsylvania as we joined Montgomery County officials, mental health ... November 2025%20(4).png)
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Building bridges: a new model for crisis care and substance use treatment
How innovative models are eliminating barriers through integrated behavioral health services November 2025.png)
Policy
Federal Policy Update: Key 2025 SAMHSA / CMS Guidance & National Technical Assistance Center
Section 5124 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (CAA, 2023; P.L. 117-328) directed CMS and SAMHSA to develop guidance to promote access to the ... September 2025.png)
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5 key takeaways from "The True Costs of Behavioral Health Care in 2025" webinar
The behavioral health crisis continues to strain our healthcare system, communities, and most importantly, the individuals who need care most. In a recent ... September 2025.png)
Featured Blog Post, Main Featured Blog Post, True Cost of Behavioral Health
Why jails are not the answer for behavioral health crises
When a behavioral health crisis occurs, many communities default to involving law enforcement. The result? Individuals in crisis are often taken to jails, an ... July 2025.png)
Main Featured Blog Post, Main Menu, True Cost of Behavioral Health
Why behavioral health inpatient solutions fall short in a crisis
For individuals facing a behavioral health crisis, the traditional response often defaults to inpatient hospitalization. While longer-term inpatient care is ... July 2025.png)
Featured Blog Post, True Cost of Behavioral Health
Why emergency rooms fall short in behavioral health crises
When a behavioral health crisis strikes, the emergency room is often the first place people turn for help. While emergency departments (EDs) are essential for ... July 2025.png)
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Understanding the true costs of behavioral health crisis care
When communities face behavioral health crises, the default solutions often involve incarceration or emergency room visits. While these options might seem like ... July 2025%20(12).png)
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Transforming crisis care systems across America: three lessons from NatCon 2025
This May, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing hosted NatCon25, a premier gathering in mental health and substance use, which brought together nearly ... June 2025.png)
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Regulatory shifts and real-world impact: 5 key takeaways from the Behavioral Health Business Value Conference
At the recent Behavioral Health Business (BHB) Value Conference, industry leaders gathered to discuss the evolving landscape of value-based care in behavioral ... May 2025
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How mobile crisis is bridging the mental health gap for youth
May is Mental Health Month and as conversations about emotional well-being take center stage, it's critical to spotlight one of the most urgent and underserved ... May 2025
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Bridging the gap: key takeaways from the Rural Mental Health Hearing at the PA State Capitol
Last week, Connections team members, Kimberly Jones, MS, LPC-S, Vice President of Clinical Operations; Chris Santarsiero, Vice President of Government Affairs; ... April 2025.png)
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No wrong door approach in crisis care: 5 key takeaways from Crisis Jam with Dr. Chris Carson
In a recent Crisis Jam discussion, Dr. Chris Carson, pioneer of the 23-hour observation model and Co-Founder of Connections, shared his insights on ... March 2025.png)
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Dr. Margie Balfour debates voluntary vs. involuntary crisis admissions on Crisis Jam
Recently, Dr. Margie Balfour joined the Crisis Jam to discuss one of the most pressing issues in crisis care: voluntary versus involuntary admissions. Dr. ... March 2025
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The team behind crisis response at Connections: Our impact
At Connections, we’re dedicated to transforming crisis care through compassionate, efficient, and personalized support. Our multidisciplinary team works ... March 2025
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5 key takeaways from our redefining crisis care webinar
As the demand for behavioral health crisis services continues to grow, it’s clear that communities need more than just additional psychiatric beds—they need ... March 2025
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The team behind crisis response at Connections: First responder collaboration
At Connections, we believe in the power of collaboration. The partnership between first responders and our crisis response teams is central to our approach to ... February 2025
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The team behind crisis response at Connections: a multidisciplinary approach
Effective crisis care relies on a coordinated, multidisciplinary team where professionals with diverse expertise work in unison to address each person’s unique ... February 2025
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The team behind crisis response at Connections: the individuals who make crisis care possible
Crisis response requires a specialized, team-based approach to provide immediate, effective care. Connections’ recovery-oriented model is powered by a diverse ... February 2025.jpg)
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Strategies for success: leveraging data to improve performance in mobile crisis response services
Effective mental health care thrives on continuous improvement, and data is a key driver of progress. By systematically collecting and analyzing information, ... January 2025
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Strategies for success: improving access to mental health care through mobile crisis response
Recognizing the limitations of traditional facilities like jails and emergency departments for handling psychiatric emergencies, mobile crisis response teams ... January 2025
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Strategies for success: collaborating to enhance efficiency with mobile crisis response
Addressing the behavioral health crisis requires a collaborative effort, as no single agency can tackle this challenge alone. Effective partnerships among ... January 2025
Top questions to discuss before releasing a CRC solicitation: key topics to highlight in your RFP
When developing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for crisis services, it's essential to provide potential providers with clear context about your community's ... January 2025.jpeg)
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Strategies for success: enhancing mental health care through mobile crisis response
While rural areas are often celebrated for their natural beauty and close-knit communities, many are facing a pressing mental health crisis that affects their ... January 2025
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Top questions to discuss before releasing a CRC solicitation: ensuring your CRC is designed for success
Creating a crisis response center involves strategic planning, expert input, and strong community engagement. Just like fire stations and police departments, ... November 2024
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Top five questions to discuss before releasing a CRC solicitation: how to secure licensing and regulatory compliance
When preparing to release a solicitation for a crisis response center (CRC), it’s essential to focus on securing the necessary licensing and understanding ... November 2024
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Celebrating excellence in behavioral health design: Connections Kirkland wins the 2024 SHN Architecture & Design Award
We are thrilled to announce that Connections Kirkland has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Senior Housing News (SHN) Architecture & Design Award in ... November 2024.jpg)
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Top five questions to discuss before releasing a CRC solicitation: how to unlock financial sustainability in crisis response
Establishing and maintaining a crisis response center is crucial for effective mental health care, but it requires a well-thought-out strategy to ensure ... November 2024
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Top five questions to include in an RFP’s clinical scope section
Writing a solicitation to identify a provider to build and/or operate a comprehensive crisis response center is a complex endeavor that requires a thorough ... October 2024.jpg)
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Key considerations to build a crisis response center
Across the U.S., county governments are at the forefront of transforming behavioral health crisis response. The launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, ... October 2024%20(1).jpg)
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Three core components of a comprehensive crisis center, simplified
A well-designed crisis care system has the potential to transform how individuals in need access timely and appropriate support. Central to this vision are ... October 2024
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Post crisis services: How lower acuity crisis programs and post-discharge planning increase stabilization success
When a mental health crisis is averted, the journey to recovery is far from over. Comprehensive discharge planning is paramount to ensure individuals receive ... October 2024
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How walk-in behavioral health urgent care centers solve an access problem in local communities
When a mental health crisis strikes, every minute counts. Yet, during an emergency, individuals often face agonizing waits of a month or more for a therapy ... October 2024
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Continued care through crisis stabilization units
Crisis stabilization units (CSU) provide inpatient-level care for individuals requiring secure, intensive monitoring beyond the 23-hour crisis observation ... September 2024.jpg)
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The role of 23-hour crisis observation units in emergency mental health care
23-hour crisis observation units aim to quickly assess needs, initiate treatment, and plan for discharge to ensure ongoing stabilization in the least ... September 2024
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Streamlining crisis care: how dedicated receiving functions minimize use of ED and jails
One of the core goals of crisis services is to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and jail bookings by providing readily accessible behavioral ... September 2024.jpg)
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The four core components of a comprehensive crisis center
The delivery of mental health services in emergency settings remains a significant challenge. Fragmented systems often struggle to provide the appropriate ... September 2024.jpg)
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The right support at the right time: defining center-based crisis services for all populations
A well-designed crisis care system has the potential to transform how individuals in need access timely and appropriate support. Central to this vision are ... August 2024
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The evolution of Arizona's innovative crisis system
Arizona has evolved its crisis response system over the past 15 years, establishing a model that emphasizes coordination, accessibility, and fiscal ... August 2024
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Crisis response centers serve as an alternative to incarceration
Oftentimes, people experiencing mental health and substance abuse-related problems end up incarcerated. How do we ensure that individuals in crisis are ... July 2024
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Navigating crisis: the four pillars of a comprehensive crisis response system
In the realm of mental health much has been done over the past few years to advance the crisis response system. Leading the charge is the state of Arizona, who ... July 2024-2.jpg)
Crisis Response Center
How "no wrong door" crisis response centers benefit first responders
A "No Wrong Door" crisis response center (CRC) is an approach that revolutionizes how first responders and law enforcement partners can help individuals in ... July 2024
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The Fentanyl crisis - how CRCs help
With an increase in fentanyl across the globe, Connections Health Solutions’ chief of quality and innovation officer, Dr. Margie Balfour, spoke to what ... July 2024
Crisis Response Center
Progressive mental health model: a holistic approach to crisis care
When 911 is called for a mental health crisis, the default response is often law enforcement rather than mental health professionals - but a proven response ... June 2024
Featured Blog Post, Crisis Roadmap
Transforming behavioral health crisis care– a roadmap to an ideal system
In the United States, a community's response to a behavioral health crisis is often fragmented, inefficient, and inaccessible to those who need it most. In ... June 2024
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Defining crisis broadly increases access to crisis care services
As leaders in the behavioral health crisis care space, we often are asked, “What defines a crisis?”. At Connections, we believe a behavioral health crisis is ... June 2024
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The Profound Impact of Peer Support Specialists in Crisis Care
Delivering immediate, high quality behavioral health crisis care to people in need is a team effort. At Connections Health Solutions, our team is comprised of ... May 2024
23-Hour Observation, Main Menu
How 23-Hour Observation Provides Faster Mental Health Treatment
People experiencing mental health crises can't afford to wait - but with behavioral health urgent care centers and the 23-hour observation model, they now have ... May 2024
23-Hour Observation
Evaluating Cost Impact of 23-Hour Observation on Mental Health Care
At a time when mental health costs are skyrocketing, one innovative model is delivering care at a fraction of the cost of traditional ER and hospital visits. May 2024
Featured Blog Post, 23-Hour Observation
Components of Effective 23-Hour Observation Programs for Mental Health
23-hour observation programs may seem straightforward on the surface, but it's the specific components and protocols that separate the most effective programs ... May 2024
23-Hour Observation
The 23-Hour Observation Model: An Alternative for Mental Health Crises
When 911 is called for a mental health crisis, the default response is often law enforcement rather than mental health professionals - but a proven treatment ... May 2024.jpg)
Policy, Main Menu
The “unwinding” of the Medicaid continuous enrollment condition
As of April 2023, states were able to resume Medicaid redeterminations and terminations of coverage for those no longer eligible, potentially putting millions ... March 2024
Youth Crisis