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We are thrilled to announce that Connections Kirkland has been honored with the prestigious 2024 Senior Housing News (SHN) Architecture & Design Award in the Behavioral Health Category. This award recognizes the most innovative and thoughtfully designed behavioral health facilities, and we are incredibly proud that our center in Kirkland, Washington, has been selected as the winner.
Connections Health Solutions Nov 7, 2024 -
The delivery of mental health services in emergency settings remains a significant challenge. Fragmented systems often struggle to provide the appropriate level of care at the critical moment when a person's crisis peaks. Comprehensive crisis centers offer a solution to this problem by integrating multiple levels of service within a single, coordinated system.
The "no wrong door" approach is central to the comprehensive crisis model. Irrespective of how an individual presents, the center is equipped to immediately initiate assessment and treatment. This eliminates the risk of a person in crisis being denied care due to lack of availability or inappropriate levels of service.
The comprehensive crisis center comprises four core components:Connections Health Solutions Sep 4, 2024 -
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 most communities, few treatment options are designed for and capable of safely managing the care of individuals in crisis. Additionally, the capacity of behavioral health services, both inpatient and outpatient, has struggled to keep up with rising patient volumes and requests for services. This challenge has been made worse by workforce shortages across the industry.
Connections Health Solutions Jun 20, 2024 -
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 individuals who each possess a different background and level of expertise, from the mental health professionals who work in our centers to the members of law enforcement we collaborate with in the communities we serve throughout Arizona, Montana, and soon Virginia and Washington state. Peer support specialists bring a unique type of experience to crisis care, making them an invaluable member of the Connections care team, as well as a person’s journey.
Connections Health Solutions May 29, 2024
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23-hour crisis observation units aim to quickly assess needs, initiate treatment, and plan for discharge to ensure ongoing stabilization in the least restrictive setting. An interdisciplinary team uses various interventions—such as medications, peer support, family involvement, and care coordination—to address crises and resolve psychosocial barriers.
Connections Health Solutions Sep 18, 2024 -
One of the core goals of crisis services is to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and jail bookings by providing readily accessible behavioral health care. A dedicated receiving function at crisis centers plays a pivotal role in this mission, offering a 24/7 entry point for individuals in need through walk-ins, emergency department transfers, and direct drop-offs by first responders.
Connections Health Solutions Sep 11, 2024 -
The delivery of mental health services in emergency settings remains a significant challenge. Fragmented systems often struggle to provide the appropriate level of care at the critical moment when a person's crisis peaks. Comprehensive crisis centers offer a solution to this problem by integrating multiple levels of service within a single, coordinated system.
The "no wrong door" approach is central to the comprehensive crisis model. Irrespective of how an individual presents, the center is equipped to immediately initiate assessment and treatment. This eliminates the risk of a person in crisis being denied care due to lack of availability or inappropriate levels of service.
The comprehensive crisis center comprises four core components:Connections Health Solutions Sep 4, 2024 -
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 crisis centers, which provide immediate interventions for those experiencing behavioral health emergencies.
Connections Health Solutions Aug 28, 2024 -
Arizona has evolved its crisis response system over the past 15 years, establishing a model that emphasizes coordination, accessibility, and fiscal responsibility. At the heart of this transformation is a managed Medicaid structure, a robust funding strategy, and a commitment to treating individuals in the community.
Connections Health Solutions Aug 7, 2024 -
Oftentimes, people experiencing mental health and substance abuse-related problems end up incarcerated. How do we ensure that individuals in crisis are receiving the proper response, treatment, and services?
Connections Health Solutions Jul 24, 2024 -
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 has charted a remarkable course, sculpting a system with four key components that form the backbone of an effective crisis response system. Let's delve into these pillars that collectively contribute to a comprehensive and impactful system.
Connections Health Solutions Jul 17, 2024 -
A "No Wrong Door" crisis response center (CRC) is an approach that revolutionizes how first responders and law enforcement partners can help individuals in crisis get treatment instead of the alternative of jail or languishing in the emergency department (ED) waiting for a bed. Centers who operate as a “no wrong door” facility have become pivotal in reshaping the narrative around mental health emergencies.
Connections Health Solutions Jul 10, 2024 -
With an increase in fentanyl across the globe, Connections Health Solutions’ chief of quality and innovation officer, Dr. Margie Balfour, spoke to what Connections is doing and how crisis response centers can help.
“Part of our mission is to get people into treatment instead of in the justice system,” Dr. Balfour stated.
Connections Health Solutions Jul 3, 2024 -
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 model is looking to change that.
Connections Health Solutions Jun 26, 2024
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