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Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health asks Yankton County for continued support of regional crisis care center
Summary
Dr. Stanich told commissioners the crisis care center provides 24/7 access and short-term stabilization, citing local data showing hundreds of contacts and a 75% drop in related ER visits; the agency is seeking county support as the commission prepares its 2026 budget.
Dr. Stanich of Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health asked the Yankton County Commission on the county—s scheduled budget day to maintain funding for the regional crisis care center, describing the facility as a 24/7 access point and short-term residential stabilization option that can keep people out of emergency departments and jails.
The presentation said the center handles crisis-care access and residential crisis stabilization and that the program was designed as an alternative to emergency rooms and other costly settings. "There was a 75% reduction in ER visits second to a behavioral health chief complaint," Dr. Stanich said, presenting a July 2024–May 2025 report that he said showed roughly 1,300 crisis contacts in the period, 886 of them from Yankton County and 390 distinct Yankton individuals. He said the center—s average daily census was about 2.5 patients and the typical length of stay about 2.5 days.
Dr. Stanich gave outcome figures for admissions and discharges, saying about 71% of people discharged from the center returned home and fewer than 1% required transfer to an emergency department for medical care. He said the center—s capacity was eight beds now, rising to 14 by July, and described the facility as an "access center" that also offers follow-up and outpatient connections.
On fiscal matters, Dr. Stanich said last year—s budget request to counties had been $101,972 and that Lewis & Clark was asking counties for a 3% increase this year. Commissioners asked whether the request used opioid-settlement dollars (it did not) and whether hospitals still required preadmission medical clearances; Stanich said hospitals often accept the center—s medical clearance though some still require additional evaluation.
Commissioners acknowledged the center—s role in reducing law-enforcement time and hospital use but said budget pressures make county support uncertain until the commission completes its revenue review. The commission scheduled a focused budget workshop for Monday the 7th at 4 p.m. to total requests and set priorities.
The commission did not take a funding vote at the meeting; members said they would examine the county—s revenue projections and the full roster of funding requests before deciding.
