“We appreciate the McSilver Institute’s investment in researching non-traditional peer models. We look forward to the next step in building practice-based evidence into an evidence-based practice,” Steve Miccio, Chief Executive Officer, People USA.
NEW YORK (PRWEB)
April 26, 2023
People USA’s innovative Crisis Stabilization Center model is being evaluated by The McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University. People USA has established the first-ever peer-run Crisis Stabilization Center. Given its innovation, the McSilver Institute will be conducting an evaluation to better understand the “secret sauce” that makes the Crisis Stabilization Center successful. Furthermore, this project will evaluate the outcomes the individuals served are experiencing.
Behavioral health crisis has been on the rise since before the pandemic and has only increased since 2020. COVID has shown us the difficulty faced by our healthcare system in managing a large influx of new patients. And with mental health challenges on the rise, when an individual is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, their first instinct is to go to the hospital, which further burdens the system. In addition, the hospital is often not the best place for someone experiencing a behavioral health challenge, especially a child who can be further traumatized by the experience (currently, 50% of individuals served at the Crisis Stabilization Center are children). That is why People USA has created and implemented a peer-run Crisis Stabilization Center.
“We are excited to partner with People USA on the evaluation of the Crisis Stabilization Center and its effectiveness in providing individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis with a peer-operated alternative to a hospital setting,” Andrew F. Cleek, Psy.D., Deputy Executive Director, NYU McSilver Institute.
Peers are individuals with lived experience who have personally overcome mental health or substance use challenges. Peers can have a variety of credentials from Licensed Social Workers, Nurses, Certified Peer Advocates, Credentialed Family Advocates, and more.
The Crisis Stabilization Center is a 24/7 community crisis response hub where people of all ages can connect immediately with an integrated team of clinical counselors, peer specialists, and behavioral health professionals. The Center is 100% voluntary. Individuals use the Stabilization Center when they’re experiencing emotional distress, acute psychiatric symptoms, addiction challenges, intoxication, family issues, and other life stressors. Stabilization Center guests have immediate access to whole health assessments, crisis counseling, guest-centered care planning, recovery & wellness education, direct connections to outside services, advocacy, and follow-up to ensure quality care.
“We appreciate the McSilver Institute’s investment in researching non-traditional peer models. We look forward to the next step in building practice-based evidence into an evidence-based practice,” Steve Miccio, Chief Executive Officer, People USA.
People USA’s mission is to educate, support, and empower people and communities to understand, manage, and overcome mental health, addiction, and social determinant of health challenges.
The McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University is committed to disrupting generational poverty through research, policy, and action.
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