NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) has awarded a community mental health center a grant contract to open two new crisis stabilization units and a walk-in center for children. I’m happy to announce this. TDMHSAS is working with the Mental Health Collaborative of Nashville and Alliance Healthcare Services of Memphis to offer these new options to families with children in crisis.
Crisis Stabilization Units (CSUs) provide intensive, short-term stabilization for people experiencing a mental health emergency. Crisis Walk-In Centers provide 24/7 in-person assessments for people experiencing mental health emergencies. Both services are free to use with or without insurance.
Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly have appropriated $5 million in new state funding to establish these centers. Knoxville is home to the state’s first CSU/WIC for children, operated by the McNabb Center and funded by a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and state infrastructure funding.
Data from the Knoxville pilot project shows both a significant need for these services and high-quality outcomes for children and families. Nearly 2,200 children and youth received services at walk-in centers (November 2021 to February 2024) and more than 700 received services through crisis stabilization units (June 2022 to February 2024) . With 94% of children and youth served by CSUs being diverted from inpatient or residential care, the opening of pediatric CSUs has had the greatest impact on families in crisis. The average time spent waiting for placement in the emergency department was reduced by one-third.
“Responding to children’s mental health crises continues to be a critical moment in the behavioral health field, and this investment will ensure that Tennessee continues to provide families and children with the right interventions at the right time and in the right place.” TDMHSAS Commissioner Marie Williams, LCSW said. “We are very grateful to Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly for providing this funding, and to our wonderful community partners who are making this work possible.”
In a recent study, Tennessee ranked No. 1 overall for access to and cost of mental health care, as well as low rates of mental health problems among children and youth. Her TDMHSAS budget for this fiscal year includes more than $52.7 million dedicated to mental health and substance use services for children and youth. Investments made in this area during the Lee administration include:
* $250 million K-12 Mental Health Trust Fund
* $15 million School-Based Behavioral Health Liaisons – The program was expanded multiple times with investments in FY2021 ($3 million), FY2023 ($4 million), and FY24 ($8 million).
* $7.6 million for a behavioral health safety net for uninsured children (FY2021). These services include assessment, treatment, care coordination, medication management, family support services, and pharmacy assistance and coordination.
* $6.5 million Tennessee Resilience Project (FY2022) – Provided funding to strengthen early childhood mental health, school-based programming, and crisis management.
*$625,000 TN Suicide Prevention Network Expansion (FY2020)
* $500,000 to advance youth and young adult mental health (2020)
For more information about TDMHSAS services for children, youth, young adults, and families, visit TN.gov/behavioral-health/children.
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About the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Our mission: Creating collaborative pathways to resilience, recovery, and independence for Tennesseans living with mental illness and substance use disorders.
Our vision: A state of resiliency, resiliency, and independence that empowers Tennesseans living with mental illness and substance use disorders.
