Washoe County outlines behavioral health expansion: crisis response, competency diversion and youth center

Washoe County officials on Sept. 2 highlighted a series of behavioral health initiatives intended to divert people from jails and emergency rooms and expand community‑based care.

Commissioner Andrea (presented as Andrea/Andrealla in the event) said the county is using the sequential intercept model to intervene at multiple points — from crisis lines to community stabilization — and cited recent programs including mobile crisis expansion, the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline and reopening a crisis care center. "Intervene early. Provide treatment, not punishment," a county presenter summarized.

County materials and presenters credited a competency court program, championed by Judge Walker, with diverting individuals from incarceration to treatment. Officials said the program avoided approximately 5,800 jail days and saved roughly $2.9 million in its first 10 months of operation.

Washoe County also said it is building the Washoe Behavioral Health Center on Ninth Street to serve children and adolescents, aiming to provide residential services, outpatient care and crisis stabilization for youth ages roughly 5–18. Presenters said the closure of a local hospital in 2021 created a gap in pediatric residential services that the county seeks to address.

Officials said the region is coordinating with the state to expand mobile crisis teams and that the goal is for crisis lines (988), mobile response and crisis care centers to work together so people in distress can access care outside of jails and emergency departments. The presentation did not release a detailed budget for the new children’s behavioral health center or an opening date for full operations.

County leaders characterized the effort as a multi‑partner, long‑term investment to change how the community responds to behavioral health crises.