Benton County Crisis Center

Concept Drawing of Crisis Center Exterior Main Entry

Concept Drawing - Exterior Main Entry. This image is an artistic drawing of what the Benton County Crisis Center could look like. This is not a final design and is subject to change. See more images below.

Mental Health Crisis Services are available now! 

Visit co.benton.or.us/health/page/crisis-services to access services.

 

Envisioning the Benton County Crisis Center

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Benton County Behavioral Health is working to create a voluntary walk-in treatment-centered facility that may serve as an alternative to the emergency room, which provides stabilization for individuals experiencing mental health crisis, along with referrals and support for ongoing behavioral health services.

The crisis center will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and serve all ages, regardless of ability to pay, no appointment needed. It is designed to serve anyone who needs a break from stressors to be connected to services and support and will have a “no-wrong-door” approach to support individuals who are having mental health crises for any number of reasons. 

The crisis center is a project of Benton County’s Justice System Improvement Program (JSIP), a multi-year effort to improve outcomes in our communities. Addressing mental health needs is a primary focus of JSIP’s vision for enhanced County programs and facilities. The crisis center may serve as a resource on calls to law enforcement that involve a mental health concern.

The Benton County Crisis Center will be located at 240 NW 4th Street in downtown Corvallis, central to transportation, community service providers, and emergency services.

Services may include:

  • Crisis assessments
  • Safe and supportive break from stressors for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis
  • Short-term therapy
  • Skills training and case management
  • Referrals for ongoing treatment and community resources

For questions/comments about the Benton County Crisis Center, please email healthdeptcommunications@co.benton.or.us

Project Timeline

The project began in April 2022 when a site was selected. In May 2022, Gerding Builders was selected as the General Contractor, and Benton County formed a Design Committee of community stakeholders of the future crisis center. Demolition on the site was completed in October 2022, and schematic drawings in November 2022. Design and construction sets were completed in early 2023.

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A screencap of a Zoom meeting shows members from the Benton County Crisis Center Design Committee during a meeting.
Design Planning

Benton County Behavioral Health has formed a design committee to help inform the design process by providing a crystal clear understanding of the unique needs of Benton County residents and what can be accomplished with the new crisis center.

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A row of cream-colored leather recliner chairs separated by cream-colored divider walls with an olive green wall in the back.
Examples from Other Communities

The following facilities are designed with similar intent to what the Benton County Crisis Center hopes to offer. While not exact representations, these programs have served as guides in design planning:

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Crisis Center News & Updates

News and Updates about the Benton County Crisis Center

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Click any thumbnail image to view a slideshow

Concept Drawing of Crisis Center Intake Room
Concept Drawing of Crisis Center Waiting Room
Concept Drawing of Crisis Center Exterior Main Entry

Frequently Asked Questions

How will the construction and operations of the crisis center be funded?

Total construction cost for the crisis center is $7.7 million with a total of $6.7 million from the State of Oregon and $1 million in federal funds. Based on current county estimates, medical reimbursement for services will cover the majority of crisis center staffing costs and the 2021 voter-approved local option levy will support a smaller portion of operations.

Category: Crisis Center
What are the current mental health challenges in Benton County?
  • Over the last decade, children and youth challenges have grown, with conditions from depression to substance use continuing to rise.
  • According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and the 2020 Oregon Student Health Survey, the rate of suicide among youth (10-24 years) has increased by 60% in the last decade. A quarter of all 11th graders reported having mental health needs that have gone unmet in the last year.
  • While access to crisis services is immediate; access to ongoing treatment in our community has been limited and not always timely.
Category: Crisis Center
What determines when a person who is experiencing a mental health and/or substance abuse crisis goes to the crisis center versus jail?

If no crime has been committed, law enforcement may point the person to the Crisis Center with information on the resources available or could facilitate transport to the Crisis Center at the individual’s request and with their consent, depending on the circumstances at the time.

If a crime has been committed, the person may be released with a criminal citation and provided with Crisis Center information. Depending on the crime committed, such as a crime against a person, the individual would most likely be taken into custody and transported to the jail.

Until the Crisis Center is operational, if a person is a threat to themselves or others, they are taken into custody on a peace officer’s hold or to the hospital.

Category: Crisis Center