Mandeville Safe Haven Crisis Center temporarily closed

THE NORTH SHORE TONIGHT. WELL THE CRISIS RECEIVING CENTER AT SAFE HAVEN HAS ABRUPTLY CLOSED ITS DOORS AND IT COULD BE THE FALL BEFORE IT REOPENS WDSU REPORTER HEATH ALLEN JOINS US FROM THE NORTH SHORE WITH WHAT HAS HAPPENED. HERE’S THE BOTTOM LINE AS YOU SAY THOSE DOORS ARE INDEED CLOSED AT THE CRISIS RECEIVING CENTER HERE AT SAVE HAVEN ON THE NORTH SHORE. THERE ARE A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT, BUT THAT’S THE ONE QUESTION. WE DO INDEED KNOW THE ANSWER TO START CORPORATION. THAT WAS THE NON-PROFIT THAT WAS ACTUALLY RUNNING THIS OPERATION. IT’S A CENTER WHERE PEOPLE THAT ARE FACING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES. THEY CAN GO WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM OR ACTUALLY HAVING TO GO TO JAIL, BUT THE STAR CORPORATION GOT IN TOUCH WITH PARISH OFFICIALS LAST MONTH AND SAID THEY COULD NO LONGER CONTINUE RUNNING THE OPERATION SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT FINANCIAL FINANCIALLY VIABLE. AND SO AS OF YESTERDAY, THEY BASICALLY SHUT THE DOORS AND NOW THE PARISH IS HAVING TO LOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO RUN THE OPERATION. LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY CAN’T BRING THOSE PEOPLE HERE AND THEN MEANTIME IN THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. THEY CAN’T BRING THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE FAMILIES AS WELL WHO JUST FEEL LIKE THEY NEED TO DROP SOMEBODY OFF HERE TO GET THAT HELP. THESE DOORS ARE CLOSED TEMPORARILY. WE’RE HOPING IT’S ONLY GONNA BE FOR A FEW WEEKS OR SO UNTIL UNTIL WE FIND THAT NEXT OPERATOR. YOU KNOW WE GOT IN TOUCH WITH THE START CORPORATION THIS AFTERNOON TO FIND OUT JUST EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED HERE WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIND OUT IS THIS IS THE ONLY ONE OF THEIR OPERATIONS THAT IS ACTUALLY CLOSING. THEY TELL US THAT OTHERS START COMMUNITY CENTERS ACROSS THE SOUTH PART OF LOUISIANA. THEY’LL CONTINUE TO OPERATE ANOTHER BIT OF INFORMATION. THAT’S VERY IMPORTANT IS IT’S THE ONLY PLACE HERE OUT AT SAFE HAVEN THAT’S ACTUALLY CLOSING ALL OF THE OTHER. HEALTH FACILITIES AND RESOURCES OUT HERE ARE UP AND RUNNING AS WELL SO YOU CAN STILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE. WE’RE WAITED HERE BACK FROM STARTERS TO THE REASON WHY WE’LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE WE HEAR

The Safe Haven Crisis Receiving Center in Mandeville is temporarily closed starting Friday.The center receives patients suffering from a mental health crisis instead of hospitals and sheriff's offices. St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper issued a statement earlier this week explaining that the Start Corporation that operated the center will no longer serve as operator starting July 1. Cooper said the center could reopen sometime in August, and that parish officials are actively searching for a new operator. Read Cooper's statement on the closure of the center here:"The need for mental health services in St. Tammany Parish remains substantial. Not only has the statistics confirmed the need for assistance, but more importantly, our loved ones and neighbors continue to struggle."In October 2021, the Safe Haven Crisis Receiving Center (CRC) officially opened its doors. The CRC, which is designed to provide identification, intervention and stabilization for those in a behavioral health crisis, is the first step towards recovery for our loved ones battling a crisis."The CRC gives healthcare professionals, law enforcement and families an alternative to the emergency room or jail during a behavioral health crisis."Start Corporation, who has operated the CRC since its inception, is no longer serving as the operator. At this time, the CRC is temporarily not accepting patients."In 2021 alone, nearly 5,000 St. Tammany Parish citizens withstood a mental health crisis. 45 loved ones died from suicide. These numbers illustrate the continued need for a CRC within our Parish."Though we are disappointed Start Corporation will no longer operate the CRC, we will continue working with our partners to identify improvements to our behavioral health system and we look forward to a new beginning."While we are working through this transitional period with the CRC, the rest of the Safe Haven Campus will remain open and operational. In 2021 approximately 5,830 individuals accessed services on the St. Tammany Campus. Other service providers on the campus include: Florida Parishes Human Services Authority, NAMI St. Tammany and the St. Tammany Parish Public School System."In the coming days, St. Tammany Parish Government will begin the process to seek out a new operator for the Crisis Receiving Center. We are expecting an expeditious process and look forward to making progress with our new operating partner, which will ultimately save lives in St. Tammany Parish."

MANDEVILLE, La. —

The Safe Haven Crisis Receiving Center in Mandeville is temporarily closed starting Friday.

The center receives patients suffering from a mental health crisis instead of hospitals and sheriff's offices.

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper issued a statement earlier this week explaining that the Start Corporation that operated the center will no longer serve as operator starting July 1.

Cooper said the center could reopen sometime in August, and that parish officials are actively searching for a new operator.

Read Cooper's statement on the closure of the center here:

"The need for mental health services in St. Tammany Parish remains substantial. Not only has the statistics confirmed the need for assistance, but more importantly, our loved ones and neighbors continue to struggle.

"In October 2021, the Safe Haven Crisis Receiving Center (CRC) officially opened its doors. The CRC, which is designed to provide identification, intervention and stabilization for those in a behavioral health crisis, is the first step towards recovery for our loved ones battling a crisis.

"The CRC gives healthcare professionals, law enforcement and families an alternative to the emergency room or jail during a behavioral health crisis.

"Start Corporation, who has operated the CRC since its inception, is no longer serving as the operator. At this time, the CRC is temporarily not accepting patients.

"In 2021 alone, nearly 5,000 St. Tammany Parish citizens withstood a mental health crisis. 45 loved ones died from suicide. These numbers illustrate the continued need for a CRC within our Parish.

"Though we are disappointed Start Corporation will no longer operate the CRC, we will continue working with our partners to identify improvements to our behavioral health system and we look forward to a new beginning.

"While we are working through this transitional period with the CRC, the rest of the Safe Haven Campus will remain open and operational. In 2021 approximately 5,830 individuals accessed services on the St. Tammany Campus. Other service providers on the campus include: Florida Parishes Human Services Authority, NAMI St. Tammany and the St. Tammany Parish Public School System.

"In the coming days, St. Tammany Parish Government will begin the process to seek out a new operator for the Crisis Receiving Center. We are expecting an expeditious process and look forward to making progress with our new operating partner, which will ultimately save lives in St. Tammany Parish."

Mandeville Safe Haven Crisis Center temporarily closed

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