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Urgent crisis centers for youth ask for $9.4 million in DCF grants to sustain services
Summary
Leaders from Connecticut's three community-based urgent crisis centers told the Appropriations Committee the centers have reduced emergency department visits and saved lives but require $9.4 million annually in DCF grants to remain viable.
Executives from Connecticut community providers told the Appropriations Committee that Urgent Crisis Centers (UCCs) for children are an effective and cost‑saving component of the state's behavioral‑health safety net and asked the committee to fund $9.4 million per year to sustain the three existing centers.
Gary Steck, CEO of Wellmore Behavioral Health, and representatives from Child and Family Agency and Civic Health described the early outcomes from the three centers: reduced emergency department visits, rapid connection to outpatient services and high rates of linkage to follow‑up care. Child and Family Agency testified that among youth seen by UCCs, roughly 91% were connected to ongoing care and only 4% required emergency department transfer; speakers said the centers are far less costly than ER treatment for behavioral health crises.
Witnesses said the UCCs were initially established with ARPA funds and now require stable DCF grant funding to continue operations and to explore additional revenue such as private insurance. They asked the Appropriations Committee to include $9,400,000 in the DCF budget for FY26 to support operations and bridge the gap as the state transitions funding from federal pandemic dollars.
Providers described rising demand: one witness said visits to UCCs increased 33% in January 2025 compared with January 2024. Testimony emphasized rapid access—some children can be seen within two hours in emergent cases—and described reduced hospital boarding and quicker stabilization in the community.
Committee members heard appeals that sustaining the UCCs would reduce emergency department strain and better serve children in crisis; there were no formal budget actions recorded during the hearing.
