Johnson County OKs 18 positions, $1.24 million to open adult crisis stabilization center

The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously April 24 to authorize the Johnson County Mental Health Center to add 18 full-time equivalent positions and to reallocate $1,243,000 from mental health fund balance reserves for fiscal year 2025 to establish an adult crisis stabilization center in Johnson County.

Commission chair Mike Kelly said the center will provide local options for residents in crisis and relieve pressure on emergency rooms and law enforcement. "This is an undeniable community need," said Tanner Fortney, who presented the proposal on behalf of the mental health center.

The commissioners and county staff said the center will operate 24 hours a day and will use remodeled space at the mental health center’s Shawnee office rather than building a new facility. Fortney told the board staff modeled operations for a 24/7 facility and expects the center to serve roughly 350 to 400 Johnson County residents annually—about one to two admissions per day. He said the staffing plan includes behavioral health specialists, nurses and supervisory staff configured to meet state staffing and safety rules for multiple units in the facility.

Members of the Good Faith Network and other community partners urged approval during public comment. Jennifer Savner Levinson, a Good Faith Network member, said, "Right now, Johnson County lives hang in the balance." Other advocates described frequent full capacity at nearby facilities and said a local center would reduce transports to out‑of‑county stabilization beds and emergency rooms.

Some public commenters pressed the county for clearer performance measures and long‑term funding assurances. Gaylene Van Horn said she supported the concept but asked how constituents would be able to see success and failure rates for the new service. Ben Hobert asked for quantitative baseline data about diversions and performance metrics. Commissioners and Fortney said the mental health center already maintains a broad set of program metrics and will incorporate facility metrics into its annual performance report; Fortney offered to provide the board with additional, regular reports and to refine metrics over time.

Commission discussion emphasized both the immediate operational need and the uncertainty of long‑term funding. Commissioners noted federal and state funding programs help underwrite the start of the service but acknowledged the county may need to reallocate or reduce other mental health center costs if state or federal funding declined in the future. Fortney said the center’s Medicaid and certified community behavioral health clinic billing would support operations but that contingency plans would be required if funding changed.

The vote to authorize the 18 FTEs and the $1,243,000 expenditure passed 6–0 (Commissioners Fast, Myers, Brewer, Hanslick, Ashcraft and Chair Mike Kelly voting aye). The board and mental health officials said the county expects a ribbon cutting in May 2025 and will return periodic outcome reports to the commissioners.