Montgomery County has officially dug in to begin construction on a new emergency behavioral health crisis center, a first-of-its-kind resource for the area's residents. During a Monday groundbreaking event in Upper Merion Township, local officials and community stakeholders came together to celebrate the initiation of a project aimed at providing 24/7 walk-in crisis care. According to a recent montgomerycountypa.gov report, the center is expected to open its doors in late 2026 and will cater to individuals of all ages experiencing behavioral health crises.
Neil Makhija, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, underscored the urgency and necessity of such an establishment. "We are breaking ground on a $21 million investment in the first 24/7 emergency behavioral health center here in Montgomery County. Together we’re going to help tens of thousands of people at the time they need it most," Makhija told montgomerycountypa.gov. The multi-faceted funding for this project draws from the State and County American Rescue Plan Act funds, Opioid Settlement Funds, County Managed Care Solution Reinvestment, and state Human Services Block Grant Funding.
The objective of the center is not only to offer immediate care but to create a seamless network that includes referrals from the County's Mobile Crisis Team and services for individuals brought in by the police, EMS, and other first responders. Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, Jamila Winder, commented on the broader impact of the project, stating, "Our investment in this emergency behavioral health crisis center has already been praised by and supported by the community at large, including law enforcement, educators, parents, and social workers. This center will be a critical part of the County’s model to guide people from crisis toward safety and treatment," as per the county announcement.
A sledgehammer wall-breaking rather than a traditional shovel ceremony marked the commencement of construction—a symbolic gesture of breaking through barriers to better address mental health needs. Among the attendees at the one-of-a-kind event were more than 100 stakeholders, health care workers, and community partners, showcasing wide support for the initiative to reshape local crisis intervention. Featuring services provided by Connections Health Solutions, the new center is a testament to Montgomery County's commitment to innovating the way mental health crises are managed, as highlighted by Commissioner Tom DiBello: "We are changing people’s lives when we’re providing the necessary services to help them, no matter what that might be. This crisis center is just another extension of what we’ve been doing in Montgomery County to address mental health."
