FAQ's on the new Crisis Assessment and Treatment Center

June 20, 2011

What’s new?
Starting on Tuesday, June 21, the Crisis Assessment and Treatment Center (CATC) will be available at 55 N.E. Grand Ave. for people having a mental health crisis who don’t need a hospital stay to become stable, but who cannot manage symptoms on their own.

Why is there a need for this center?
The need for an assessment and treatment center has long been identified by community leaders, mental health advocates and others as a much-needed piece of the safety net to help people who don’t need hospitalization but who do need assistance managing the symptoms of their mental health crises. The CATC is a partnership with Multnomah County, the city of Portland, the state and a variety of nonprofit organizations.

What are other details I should know about the center?
The CATC is a 16-bed secure, locked facility on the second floor of the David P. Hooper Sobering Center. (The building is owned by Central City Concern.) People in crisis who are admitted to the CATC will stay from four to 14 days as their symptoms stabilize. Admission is open to people on the Oregon Health Plan and people without insurance. Admission will be managed by Multnomah County’s Mental Health Call Center (503-988-4888) and Telecare (503-232-1099).

Since the CATC has a set number of beds, it cannot function as a triage center where anyone who wants services can show up to drop someone off. Instead, police, mental health providers and local hospitals will contact staff to triage people to the center, a hospital or to other mental health facilities. CATC staff will include medical and mental health professionals, as well as peer support specialists to work with a projected 850 consumers each year.

Among the other options available for people in mental health crisis are the Urgent Walk-in clinic, at 2415 S.E. 43rd Ave., and Project Respond, the county’s immediate mobile response unit reached by calling the Call Center (503-988-4888).

So how do you define a mental health crisis?
A mental health crisis usually means the symptoms of a person’s illness have gotten significantly worse, and that he or she might hurt themselves or somebody else as a result. Such crises may also mean symptoms significantly interfering with a person’s ability to function at normal levels, and that immediate care is required so the person can stabilize and return to treatment in the community or gain access to treatment.

What happens when a patient is discharged from the CATC?
Each person who is discharged will have a follow-up treatment plan. Staff also will help discharged patients to find other resources, such as housing, basic needs assistance and care for physical health needs. Staff also will try to connect people with natural supports, such as informal caregivers, family and friends.

What are the costs?
Construction costs were $4.5 million. Annual operating costs are budgeted at $3.5 million.

Who’s paying?
The Portland Development Commission and city Housing Bureau provided $2 million of the $4.5 million in construction costs. The state provided $1 million, Multnomah County provided $700,000 and New Market tax credits covered the remaining $800,000 in construction expenses.

Multnomah County and the city of Portland are each paying 17 percent of the $3.5 million in annual operating expenses. The state is picking up the remaining 66 percent of the operating costs, mostly through Medicaid funding for the Oregon Health Plan and the rest coming from the state’s general fund.