Orange County has a comprehensive array of crisis services that operate 24/7, every day of the year, and are designed to support individuals of all ages who are experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, a behavioral health emergency. These programs range from telephone-based prevention programs through intensive crisis support services provided either in the home, residential setting, crisis stabilization unit or anywhere in the community. The goal is to 1) provide peer and clinical support – either directly or through linkages to other services – so that the person may continue living safely in the community, when appropriate, or 2) facilitate admission to a psychiatric hospital or crisis stabilization unit when a higher level of care is needed to ensure the health and safety of an individual.
Programs help individuals of all age groups during a behavioral health emergency and are designed to rapidly address and respond to individuals in crisis in order to achieve the most desirable outcomes. These programs aim to provide treatment in the most dignified, recovery oriented and least restrictive setting as appropriate, in lieu of an inpatient setting, whenever possible. Crisis services works with individuals’ immediate support networks and assists in referral and linkage in order to keep the individuals connected in the community with structured support (when appropriate) in order to promote recovery/resiliency and have a plan in place to divert any future crises. They include the Crisis Assessment Team (CAT), Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), Crisis Residential as well as In-Home Crisis Stabilization for Children/Transitional Aged Youth (TAY)/Adults, and the Crisis Hotline.
