Deschutes County OKs remodel for stabilization center

The Deschutes County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved moving forward with a building remodeling and design plans for the new crisis and stabilization center.

The stabilization center will be located at the public safety campus off of Highway 20 in Bend.

The purpose of the facility is to help those in need of mental health services, instead of sending them to jail, or to the St. Charles Bend emergency room.

So far, plans call for the stabilization center to solely provide short-term stay opportunities for guests, permitting care for up to 23 hours.

County officials say the stabilization center will work in partnership with police to train them on how to care for and bring the proper individuals to the facility.

However, a transportation system from the emergency room to the facility is yet to be determined.

“One of the things that is very unique about our center is that we have very strong support from our law enforcement partners, the police departments and the sheriff’s office,” county commission Chair Phil Henderson said.

“We are siting this out on our public safety campus, and so we are exploring how will they be connected (on a) continuing (basis). And they have a history already of working with mental health issues and mental health crises, so our staff is very confident this will be an easier transition,” Henderson added.

Henderson said they’re trying to speed up the remodeling process, hoping it’s completed within six months.

The stabilization center will be a single-story remodel, and is estimated to cost $990,000.