Center Offers “No Wrong Door” Access to Treatment for People Experiencing Mental Health or Substance Use-Related Crises

March 31, 2026

(NEWARK) – Human Services and Rutgers University today hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the state’s first Crisis Receiving Stabilization Center (CRSC) in Essex County. As part of the 988 continuum of care, the Newark CRSC will offer a no-wrong-door access to crisis stabilization, meaning anyone in distress can go there and get immediate help.

CRSCs are home-like, non-hospital centers that provide short-term (under 24 hours), community-based support for individuals experiencing suicidal, mental health, or substance use crises.

“CRSCs grow the state’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline continuum of crisis services in New Jersey—someone to call, someone to respond, and somewhere safe to go. This center represents years of dedication and careful planning to create a system that meets people where they are and helps stabilize crises before they escalate. The Newark center is the first of five planned locations throughout the state that aims to bring urgent, community-based behavioral health care directly to the people who need it most,” said Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha.

“Rutgers is pleased to partner with the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services to open the first Crisis Receiving Stabilization Center. We believe this new program will enhance access to care, provide a safe and inviting alternative to traditional hospital emergency rooms, and effectively help to stabilize individuals experiencing psychiatric crises. This more inviting and comfortable setting offers an opportunity to help reduce acute symptoms and enables warm handoffs, allowing for continuity of treatment and a return to more normalized community-based care and services. We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to serving individuals and families over the coming months and years,” said Rutgers University President William F. Tate, IV.

The center, located in the Behavioral Health Sciences Building on Rutgers University’s Newark campus, will welcome walk-ins, be a destination for Mobile Crisis Outreach Response Teams (MCORTs) and other behavioral health crisis responders, as well individuals brought in by law enforcement and fire departments. It will be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round with a prescriber, registered nurse, clinician, behavioral health technician, and peer recovery specialist. Services will be available to everyone, regardless of insurance, payer source, or ability to pay.

Commissioner Cha and President Tate were joined by Senator Joseph F. Vitale; Frank A. Ghinassi, President and CEO, Rutgers Health University Behavioral Health Care; Carole Johnson, Chief Executive Officer and President of University Hospital; and Valerie Mielke, Deputy Commissioner for Health Services at the Department of Human Services. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was followed by a tour of the facility.

“The 9-8-8 program has become a lifeline for thousands of New Jersey residents experiencing mental health or substance use crises. The comprehensive system gives people the resources they need when the need them – specifically, someone to call, someone to respond, and somewhere to go. I’m honored to be here today to celebrate the opening of New Jersey’s first Crisis Receiving Stabilization Center in Newark, which will play a key role in the 9-8-8 continuum of care,” said Senator Joseph F. Vitale.

The center will assess individuals 18 years and older who present in a behavioral health crisis associated with a mental health and/or substance use issue. Services provided at the center are designed to alleviate the crisis, reduce symptoms, help restore the individual to a previous level of functioning, and avoid more restrictive levels of treatment whenever possible. CRSC admission will be voluntary and those who enter may leave at any time unless determined to be a danger to self or others. If needed, the local Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS) will be contacted to evaluate the individual for a higher level of care.

In addition to using best practices for behavioral health crisis interventions, this initiative will produce cost savings by mitigating the use of emergency rooms, as well as reduce police engagement, arrests, incarcerations, and 911 calls.

“Today marks the launch of a critical new service for the people of New Jersey. The Crisis Receiving Stabilization Center (CRSC) offers a safe, comfortable, and therapeutic haven for individuals experiencing acute behavioral health symptoms and periods of destabilization. Through our partnership with the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, we are now able to provide a place where individuals can access care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We are grateful to be part of this new solution and are confident it will help to relieve the stresses on hospital emergency rooms in Essex County,” said Frank A. Ghinassi, President and CEO of Rutgers Health University Behavioral Health Care.

“At University Hospital, we applaud the launch of the 24/7 Essex County Crisis Receiving Stabilization Center, as we see first-hand the need for community resources to support people with mental health and substance use disorder who need community services,” said Carole Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer of University Hospital.  “Thank you to our partners at Rutgers and to the New Jersey Department of Human Services for working with University Hospital to help to meet the needs of our community.”

“CRSCs are a safe alternative for individuals in crisis, connecting people directly to care and support without relying on costly emergency rooms or unnecessary law enforcement involvement. By providing a community-based alternative, these centers can help reduce unnecessary ER visits and hospitalizations while ensuring people get the right level of care when they need it most. We are proud to bring this impactful resource to the community, knowing it delivers timely support and connects individuals with the services they need,” said Valerie Mielke, Deputy Commissioner for Health Services at the Department of Human Services.

The remaining four CRSCs will be located in Morris County, Bergen County, Monmouth County and Camden County. The CRSC initiative is funded with state and federal funds.

CRSCs are the final component of the 988 continuum of crisis services.

988 is the nationwide 3-digit dialing code for suicide prevention and mental health or substance use crises. Since the launch of 988 in 2022, the average number of monthly calls answered in New Jersey have grown from 3,758 to 8,635 in the first half of fiscal year 2026.

The Department’s Mobile Crisis Outreach Response Teams (MCORTs), launched statewide in 2025, respond to non-life-threatening mental health, substance use, and suicidal crises without law enforcement or other emergency personnel. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, working in coordination with the State’s 988 Lifeline centers. MCORTs are dispatched when a 988 Crisis Counselor determines that community outreach would be helpful and the person calling 988 or a loved one expresses interest in these services.

988 offers live call services in English and in Spanish, and uses language line services to respond in over 250 other languages. 988 chat and texting is available in English and in Spanish. If you or a loved one is in crisis, you can text to 988, and chat 988 at 988lifeline.org/chat.  For New Jersey-specific information about 988, visit here.