Momentum for Health’s Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) is a safe place you can turn when you need to reset outside of a locked setting. Here, we believe that crisis can happen to anyone, but crisis can be managed. The CSU gives you time to get away from stressful situations or environments in your life, while remaining in the community.

You can stay in the CSU for up to 24 hours as a voluntary alternative to a locked treatment setting. The CSU can serve up to eight clients at a time.

What to Expect:

  • 1.

    You will be greeted with compassionate care upon arrival. A nurse will complete a brief medical triage, check your vital signs, and give you a rapid COVID test

  • 2.

    You’ll meet with a clinician to discuss your current experience and ensure CSU is appropriate for your current needs.

  • 3.

    We welcome you inside to discuss options during your stay

    hand holding

A Warm Welcome

The CSU exists to meet your basic needs in a respectful environment. We can provide a warm meal at any hour, a warm shower, and safe sleeping arrangements. You can interact with other clients if you wish.

Your Care

While you’re here, you can meet with our nurses, caseworkers, and certified counselors, but you aren’t required to participate in individual or group therapy. Peer navigators with lived experience are onsite 7 days a week as a resource to help you navigate your treatment options.

Options

Freedom of choice and a safe environment are important values at the CSU. Crisis can feel like a wave, and our support doesn’t end at discharge. Staff will assist you in linking to other community resources.

To be eligible to stay in the Crisis Stabilization Unit, you must meet the following criteria:

  • You are 18 years old or older.
  • You have active Medi-Cal, Medicare, or no insurance. We cannot accept private insurance.
  • You are not in need of drug or alcohol detox services.
  • The crisis you are experiencing is the result of behavioral health distress.

We’re Here For You 24/7

 

The Crisis Stabilization Unit is staffed around the clock by a team of registered nurses, clinicians, peer navigators, and mental health counselors. The CSU provides a middle ground for those who don’t require acute inpatient care but still need relief from the stresses of their daily lives. This space reduces the strain on local law enforcement and emergency rooms, so they can focus on those who require their services.

Since opening in 2018, the CSU has welcomed almost 5,000 clients. About 80% of our clients return more than once, and 99% are discharged back into the community.

Interested in Receiving Services?

If you’re interested in receiving services at the CSU, you can call the Unit directly at (408) 207-0560, ext. 1 or ring our doorbell at 101 Jose Figueres Avenue. A licensed staff member will assess your situation and help you decide what is needed. If you need medical help or medical detox services, we can coordinate your transfer to the hospital or a sobering center.

Care &
Treatment
Tailored to You

  • Because of your short stay in the CSU, the schedule is flexible. Every person who comes through our unit has a unique set of needs. You can expect to be treated with dignity and respect, including receiving meals, assistance with basic hygiene, and connections with other community resources. You’ll be assigned a recliner in a common area, where we make every effort to accommodate safety and identity preferences. We have showers and a washer and dryer, so you can feel clean and refreshed when you leave.
  • Nurses are available to provide medication, education, and medical assessment. Clinicians are available if you wish to talk, but you’re not required to.
  • We don’t permit visitors during your stay, but you’re welcome to talk to friends and family on your phone. (We don’t permit photos for privacy reasons.) We will securely store your belongings in our safe and return them to you at the end of your stay.
  • With plenty of homelike touches like a large fish tank and serene art on the walls, the CSU helps you return to your daily life renewed and ready to handle life’s challenges.