Montgomery County Diversion Center
Diversion Center FAQs
What is a Diversion Center?
A Diversion Center is a 24/7/365 facility that provides voluntary, short-term stabilization services to individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. By establishing a Diversion Center, the County aims to divert individuals in crisis from hospital emergency rooms, and thereby reduce the current burden on first responders and emergency personnel, and free up resources for medical emergencies.
What kind of services will the Diversion Center provide?
The Diversion Center will include a total of 25 recliners ( 24-hour stay) and 20 beds ( 72 hour stay). It will be staffed by a multidisciplinary team including psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, licensed mental health clinicians, peer support specialists, and alcohol and drug counselors. It will also employ coordinators to engage clients in discharge planning and follow-up to ensure that each client connects to appropriate community-based services.
Who is eligible to receive Diversion Center services?
Clients will be referred and transported by local hospitals, first responders, county crisis service providers, and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The Diversion Center will not be open to walk-in clients.
What will the impact be on community safety?
The Diversion Center will benefit the safety and security of the Seven Locks community, where thousands of individuals who are involved with the justice system are released around the clock every year. The facility's proximity to the county's Central Processing Unit and Detention Center will enable these individuals to easily access stabilization services upon release, instead of being released directly into the community without any support. As for the Diversion Center’s own security, DHHS will contract with an external vendor through a competitive bidding process to provide 24/7 onsite security services. The County will solicit community input into security plans throughout the design phase of the project.