Short-Term Crisis Care (23-Hour Care)

Support when you need a safe place to stabilize

When a mental health or substance use crisis hits, the emergency room or an inpatient psychiatric hospital isn’t always the right answer—or the most comfortable one. Sometimes, you just need a safe, supportive place to breathe, stabilize, and figure out the next step.

At WTCSB’s Crisis Receiving Center (CRC), we offer short-term crisis care (often called 23-hour care) to provide immediate intervention without the stress of an unnecessary hospital admission.

What short-term crisis care is

Also known as a 23-Hour Center, this service provides up to 23 hours of support in a non-hospital, community-based crisis stabilization setting. Our primary goal is to determine your immediate needs, provide appropriate treatment throughout your stay, and coordinate a safe, structured return to the community.

During your time at the CRC, our team will provide:

• Ongoing Assessment: Continuous mental health evaluations to make a clinical determination of the safest, most effective level of care for your needs.
• Crisis Intervention: Immediate, on-site support to de-escalate symptoms, manage behavioral health crises, and provide emergency medication management if necessary.
• Care Coordination: Comprehensive planning for your ongoing psychosocial needs, including health literacy counseling and direct linkage to long-term community supports before you are discharged.

Who short-term crisis care serves

This 24/7 service is designed for individuals experiencing a behavioral health, mental health, or substance use crisis who need more than a quick assessment but do not require long-term inpatient hospitalization.

CRCs play a critical role in an effective regional crisis system because they are highly accessible. We accept individuals who walk in or self-refer, as well as direct referrals from regional crisis lines, mobile crisis teams, and local law enforcement.

You’re not alone. Recovery support is here.

If you are trying to rebuild stability during a behavioral health crisis, you do not have to do it by yourself. A brief, supportive stay at the CRC can be a practical next step toward stronger routines, healthier coping, and true stabilization.

WTCSB is here to help you find the right level of support and move forward one step at a time.

(If you or someone you love is experiencing a crisis but cannot walk in, please contact our crisis line 24/7 at (757) 925-2484 or call 988).