Cumberland County hears data, challenges and progress report on Connections crisis walk‑in center

Connections, the tri‑county crisis walk‑in center serving Cumberland, Perry and Dauphin counties, updated Cumberland County officials on operations, use and partnership status and outlined remaining challenges and near‑term steps on Thursday.

Britney McCarthy, the strategic account manager for Connections, said the center has a 100% acceptance rate and averages about nine adult walk‑ins per day. “Our mission is providing immediate care to people in crisis and connecting them to long term support in their community,” McCarthy said. She and Kimberly Jones, vice president of clinical operations, described the center’s service lines, data through April and work to speed handoffs from emergency departments and law enforcement.

County officials were shown that Connections operates a walk‑in urgent care on Cameron Street, a 23‑hour‑59‑minute observation unit for stabilization, outpatient recovery/transition services and a mobile crisis response team. The mobile team began rolling out December 4, adult services launched December 11, and youth services (age 14–17) launched January 13, officials said. The data presented covered December through April and is available in a monthly report the provider will share with county staff.

Why this matters: Connections is intended to reduce arrests and emergency room visits for behavioral health crises by…