Dignity Health Dominican Hospital has provided a $750,000 grant to support the County of Santa Cruz Health Services Agency Youth Crisis Diversion Project, slated to start Jan. 1 and run through June 30.
These funds will help establish a temporary diversion of youth experiencing a behavioral health crisis to a preferred Emergency Department with trained behavioral health staff. It is anticipated that 150 youth under age 18 and their families will be served, regardless of ability to pay.
“Currently, Santa Cruz County has limited options for crisis support services for our youth. We recognize that our community is in need of these services and we are proud to step up and make this contribution,” said Dominican Hospital President Nanette Mickiewicz, MD. “We believe there is a significant opportunity to impact outcomes and lives.”
The County of Santa Cruz is working to establish a permanent youth crisis stabilization and residential program at 5300 Soquel Ave., which is expected to open in 2025.
In the interim, this grant from Dominican Hospital aims to help bridge the gap and ensure that youth have access to quality behavioral health crisis support services, while minimizing the impact to emergency services.
Health Services Agency Director Mónica Morales said, “We are grateful to Dignity Health Dominican Hospital for their generous grant to support the youth Crisis Diversion Project and for their commitment to improving the health and well-being of our community. This grant will help provide vital services to our youth and families who are in crisis and struggling with behavioral health issues until we can launch our permanent youth Crisis Stabilization Program and Crisis Residential Program in 2025.”
Dominican Hospital conducts a triannual Community Health Needs Assessment to identify the top community health needs. The most recent, in May 2022, identified behavioral health, tied with housing and homelessness, as the top community health need.
During the fiscal year 2023, Dominican Hospital provided more than $40 million in patient financial assistance and community benefit programs.