Accute Crisis Stabilization Pilot Projet

 

   The Acute Crisis Stabilization Pilot Project is a collaboration of community agencies working to enhance community mental health and substance abuse services by integrating acute services into the existing continuum of care.  The Acute Inpatient Services and the Partial Hospitalization Program are provided by the staff of Cheyenne Regional Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit.   Acute inpatient services are provided in a hospital setting and include diagnosis, evaluation, medication management and other prescribed care, as identified in an individualized treatment plan, developed in collaboration with other appropriate continuum of care services.
   The Partial Hospitalization Program’s role in the crisis stabilization may be illustrated by the patients stepped down from the Inpatient Unit.  Clients from the Crisis Stabilization Center also benefit from the program due to its structure and the availability of medical services and on-site psychiatrist.   The Partial Hospitalization Program works to build on the patient’s insight and social skills through education and peer support. 
   Peak Wellness Center and their staff were crucial in developing, staffing and on May 21, 2007 opening the first Crisis Stabilization Center in Wyoming.  Casa de Paz (translated “House of Peace”) Crisis Stabilization Center is a safe, voluntary, short-term alternative to hospitalization for those suffering from serious mental illness. The staff at Casa de Paz collaborates with local agencies, including the Cheyenne Police Department and Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, to ensure a seamless transition of services.   They have a very high diversion rate (96%) and the program is much less expensive than inpatient hospitalization.   The goal of this program is to reduce the dramatization and help individuals stabilize their symptoms by providing supportive, intensive, positive treatment in a home-like atmosphere with as few disruptions as possible.   
   Carbon County Counseling Center has also opened a Crisis Stabilization Center in Rawlins based on the same model as Casa de Paz. If a client has a co-occurring disorder and is currently under the influence of alcohol or drugs, under the Pilot Project this client has the opportunity to go to Social Detox at the Alcohol Receiving Center and if needed can have trained staff monitor them on a one to one basis until they are able to transfer to Casa de Paz, back into the community or into a recommended treatment facility.   
   The Acute Crisis Stabilization Pilot Project, based on the Continuity of Care Model, has improved the lives of numerous at-risk citizens in our state. The community agencies involved in this project continue to work on eliminating the barriers to services, so every individual in need of Crisis Stabilization Services is able to get help.