High Plains Mental Health seeks county support for 22-bed crisis center, highlights TMS treatments

High Plains Mental Health Director Craig Poe told the Ellis County Commission on Feb. 18 that the agency has expanded local services and is asking counties to consider funding to open a regional Crisis Intervention Center (CIC) in Hays.

Poe said High Plains began offering transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at its Hays clinic in August and described rapid clinical improvement among patients. “We have about 15 graduates, actually, probably closer to 20 now,” Poe said, adding that many patients have moved from severe depression scores to minimal or no depression on standard screening tools. Poe said High Plains uses a device called NeuroStar and that the treatment requires about 20 minutes a day for seven weeks.

Poe said the CIC proposal would add a 24-hour facility on the East Wing, third floor of the Hadley Center to provide crisis, involuntary psychiatric holds where appropriate, and dedicated sobering beds. “This facility will be a 22 bed facility with 2 de‑escalation rooms,” Poe said, and the design includes the ability to expand by up to 10 additional beds without major reconstruction.

Poe said Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) awarded $1,380,000 to start construction and the agency has a Medicaid PPS rate change tied to being a certified community behavioral health center (CCBHC). He said roughly $4,000,000 remains to fund construction and fit‑out. For operating support, High Plains said it will submit a formal request to Ellis County for $200,000 to support mostly the 2026 operating year; Poe described that amount as “about 4 percent of the annual operating budget of the CIC” and said it would be a recurring operating request if the facility opens.

Poe cited regional demand data to justify the project. He said the Docking Institute and High Plains’ internal records estimate several hundred annual “screens” that could lead to CIC care; High Plains reported 705 screening evaluations in 2024 and said Ellis County accounted for 224 adult screens that year. “It would be very likely that we would see over 200 people that reside in Ellis County that seek services in the CIC next year,” Poe said.

Poe asked commissioners to consider the funding request and said the CIC would also create local jobs and economic activity. “Fifty new jobs means well over $4,000,000 in income added to this economy,” he said, noting ancillary economic multipliers used in the agency’s materials.

Commissioners pressed for operational details: Poe said the CIC would operate 24 hours, include security staff to work with therapeutic staff, and rely on trained clinical staff for de‑escalation and on-site care. He said High Plains plans to use a private elevator for secure law‑enforcement drop‑offs and that staffing will include security officers per shift plus clinicians. Poe said the organization is pursuing grants, foundations and KDADS funding and does not intend to ask Ellis County for the full construction shortfall.

Why this matters: Poe and other presenters framed the CIC as an alternative to sending people in crisis to emergency departments or jail cells. The commission took the presentation as an informational briefing and discussed next steps; High Plains said it intends to submit a formal funding request to counties for operating support and to continue fundraising for construction.

Commissioner Michael Burgett praised the proposal’s regional focus and the potential to reduce load on hospitals and county facilities, and Commissioner Nathan Leiker said county officials will discuss the proposal further before any commitment.

Ending: High Plains asked commissioners for feedback and said an official written county funding request would follow; Poe said he would continue to meet with local law enforcement and hospital leaders as the project proceeds.