High Plains Mental Health
Northwest Kansas’ new Crisis Intervention Center (CIC) will officially open its doors May 4, bringing urgently needed behavioral health treatment to a vast, underserved rural area. Owned and operated by High Plains Mental Health Center, the CIC provides 24/7/365 therapeutic and psychiatric care for adults experiencing mental health or substance use crises.
The CIC previously was expected to open March 2. Due to additional construction delays, planning has been adjusted to support a May 4 opening, and High Plains Mental Health Center remains committed to completing the project this spring.
The new facility will make it much easier for people to access needed treatment, offering professional care at the right time and in the right place – much closer to home. Access to prompt, specialized treatment will save lives and improve patient well-being, said Craig Poe, executive director.
“This facility will be a vital resource for individuals facing mental health and substance use crises. Too often, those in crisis find themselves in emergency rooms unequipped to provide the specialized care they need or, even worse, in jail due to a lack of appropriate alternatives,” Poe said. “The CIC will change that by offering immediate stabilization, treatment, and support in a safe, therapeutic environment that upholds the dignity of every individual.”
Currently, individuals needing psychiatric hospitalization must travel long distances to access needed services. Patients often end up in jails or emergency rooms due to lack of appropriate facilities and unfortunately face long delays (days or even weeks) for a state hospital bed. This delay in medical treatment often negatively impacts the patients’ well-being and strains service capacity for rural law enforcement agencies and hospitals.
“This facility will be huge for this region and our ability to provide services to those mental health consumers who need help, especially in times of crisis,” said Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler. “Law enforcement across the region have to respond to these calls. This facility will allow those patients to get treatment in a more timely manner.”
A grand opening with opportunities for community partners to tour the new CIC facility is tentatively planned for late April. More details will be announced soon via High Plains Mental Health Center’s website and social media platforms.
Located on the third floor of the Hadley office building in a secure wing, the CIC will be initially licensed for 16 beds, with physical capacity to expand to 23. The unit will offer medical and therapeutic treatment for mental health crises in addition to social detoxification for individuals with substance use challenges. The typical length of stay will be three days, with the ability to extend admissions as needed.
The CIC will accept voluntary patients, who choose to self-refer to the facility for treatment, and involuntary patients who are in law enforcement custody due to the severity of their symptoms. This facility is the first of its kind in western Kansas, operating under a new type of licensure approved in the State of Kansas in 2024. Clients will not receive a bill for services provided at the CIC.
Construction and development are ongoing and High Plains Mental Health Center Endowment is actively fundraising to support this life-saving project. Total project costs are approximately $7 million. Partial funding has been secured to help offset those costs, but community support is urgently needed, Poe said. All donations are tax-deductible.
“We can’t do this without your help. Every donation helps make this center a reality for those who need our support,” Poe said. “Join us in creating a space where everyone can get the care they need in the most effective setting. Every single gift counts. Every dollar matters. Please help us build a more resilient Northwest Kansas community.”
For more information about the CIC or to give securely online, visit donatehighplains.com today. Contributions can be mailed to 208 E. 7th Street, Hays, KS 67601. For more information, contact development officer James Gerstner at (785) 628-2871.
Donors of $500 or more will receive a plaque in their name on our mobile donor recognition wall, which travels to events throughout the state to maximize visibility and will ultimately find a permanent home inside the new CIC facility.
High Plains Mental Health Center is a licensed Community Mental Health Center and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic dedicated to the aggressive pursuit of providing a comprehensive mental health program to the residents of Northwest Kansas. Embodied in this pursuit are fundamental principles of establishing quality services as close to home as possible, at an affordable fee, and delivered in the least disruptive manner available. Such services will offer a continuum of care so that treatment can be individualized, and our staff can respond quickly and compassionately to those reaching out to us. We’re Here for You … Because YOU Are Important