Last week, Connections team members, Kimberly Jones, MS, LPC-S, Vice President of Clinical Operations; Chris Santarsiero, Vice President of Government Affairs; and Brittney McCarthy, Strategic Account Manager, were honored to stand alongside state and county leaders at the Capitol Building in Harrisburg during a public hearing hosted by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania Board of Directors. The hearing spotlighted a vital but often overlooked issue: rural mental health.
We’re deeply grateful to the Center for Rural Pennsylvania for convening this important conversation and to the lawmakers, behavioral health professionals, and community leaders who shared both the challenges they face and the hope they’re building in their communities.
A platform for progress
During the panel discussion, “Perspectives from County Officials and Mental Health Professionals,” the Connections team was honored to join a distinguished group of community and judicial leaders, including:
The panel highlighted the Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry County Emergency Behavioral Health Crisis Walk-In Center—a groundbreaking initiative in Central Pennsylvania providing immediate mental health and substance use crisis care. Along with mobile crisis teams, this regional approach is making a measurable difference, proving what’s possible when communities come together.
The center stands as a beacon of hope in the region, reducing barriers to treatment and ensuring that help is available when it’s needed most. We’re immensely grateful for the support and commitment that made this center a reality and are excited to see how this collaborative model can continue to grow and inspire other regions.
Collaboration in action
Creating a shared crisis response system across Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry Counties is no small feat—but it’s proving to be both possible and powerful. This kind of regional collaboration doesn’t just improve access to care—it transforms how communities think about, respond to, and support individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.
This collaborative spirit has been the driving force behind the success of initiatives like the Emergency Behavioral Health Crisis Walk-In Center. As Annie Strite said, “It takes many people to come together to serve their communities.” That includes not just county and state leaders, but local providers, first responders, peer support specialists, and community organizations—all working together to ensure that individuals in crisis receive timely, compassionate care.
Beyond the immediate response, partners have come together to create strong follow-up systems that help individuals stay connected to long-term support. Programs like Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training—which prepare law enforcement and first responders with skills to better handle behavioral health situations—are evolving based on lived experience and local needs. These training courses are more than just skill-building; they represent a cultural shift in how crisis is recognized and addressed.
Beyond the crisis: building continuity of care
One of the most critical—and often overlooked—questions in behavioral health crisis care is: What happens next? Stabilization is only the beginning. Real progress happens when individuals are supported beyond the immediate moment of crisis, with a clear path toward long-term healing and recovery.
As Kimberly Jones shared during the hearing, Connections is deeply committed to ensuring that individuals don’t just survive a crisis—they thrive afterward. That means being intentional about what comes next. Whether that’s coordinating direct admissions to inpatient care for those who need a higher level of support or working closely with community-based providers to build a network of ongoing services, our focus is always on sustained, individualized care.
We’re proud that more than 60% of those we serve can return to their communities without needing hospitalization—thanks to robust wraparound supports that include case management, peer support, outpatient services, and family engagement. These outcomes reflect the value of a system rooted in connection, continuity, and compassion.
At Connections, we’re tracking each person’s journey post-crisis, gathering data that helps us identify service gaps, streamline transitions, and inform decisions at every level—from frontline care to system-wide policy. This data-driven approach ensures we’re not just reacting to crisis but proactively shaping a behavioral health system that is responsive, equitable, and sustainable.
Tackling systemic barriers
While local innovation is driving progress, systemic barriers—particularly around funding and insurance coverage—remain a major hurdle. These challenges were front and center during the hearing, especially for rural communities working to build and sustain crisis care infrastructure.
Chris Santarsiero, Vice President of Government Affairs at Connections, emphasized the need for strong collaboration with payors to create sustainable funding models. Several lawmakers spoke to a harsh reality: in many rural areas, jails have become the default response to behavioral health crises due to a lack of accessible care. This trend underscores the urgency of investing in alternatives.
Rural areas also face higher per-capita costs to deliver services, making funding equity critical to expanding access. Addressing these issues isn’t just about dollars—it’s about designing systems that reflect the real costs and needs of rural communities.
A model worth following
The outcomes and operational framework from the Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry County Crisis Walk-In Center represent more than a local success story—they’re part of a proven model that Connections Health Solutions has implemented in communities across the country.
For nearly two decades, Connections has helped design and operate behavioral health crisis systems in states like Arizona, Montana, Virginia, and Washington. From large urban centers to rural communities, our model is built around the same core principles: timely access to care, and strong coordination across systems.
What’s happening in Central Pennsylvania reflects the power of that approach—and its potential to guide other regions. With walk-in crisis access, mobile response teams, and integrated follow-up, this model offers a blueprint for effective, scalable, and sustainable care. It’s not just about reacting to crisis—it’s about building a system that prevents escalation, supports recovery, and meets people where they are.
The tools, protocols, and collaborative spirit behind this work can help other counties align crisis services with local needs, ensuring that support is always within reach—no matter where someone lives.
Our ongoing commitment
At Connections, we’re proud to help pioneer this work—and we know it’s only the beginning. As Pennsylvania and other states look to strengthen their crisis care systems, we remain firmly committed to:
To learn more about the Connections model, visit connectionshs.com/about
To access the full hearing and testimony, visit: Advancing Rural Mental Health Awareness and Support Public Hearing - Center for Rural PA