Tri County outlines plan for Hardee County crisis stabilization unit; regional provider urges caution

Tri County Human Services representatives told the Hardee County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 15 that the agency was appropriated $5,200,000 by the state during the 2023 legislative session to support construction of a crisis stabilization unit (CSU) to serve Hardee and neighboring counties.

"Tri County Human Services was appropriated $5,200,000 for a to construct a CSU in Hardee County," a Tri County representative told the board, and introduced subject-matter staff who described the proposals services and operations. Becky Rozier, a licensed mental-health counselor and Tri County director of community programs, said Tri County already provides counseling, psychiatric services by telehealth, school-based prevention and jail psychiatric evaluations in the tri-county area and that a CSU would expand the continuum of care in Hardee County.

Dr. Eric Campbell, identified as Tri Countys medical director and a board-certified psychiatrist, described the CSU model proposed to the legislature as a short-term, licensed psychiatric treatment unit. "Our proposal was 10 adult psychiatric beds and 10 adult detoxification beds," he said, adding the average length of stay would be three to seven days and that CSUs are intended to reduce jail bookings, repeat 911 calls and emergency-room boarding for psychiatric patients.

"Every family is one crisis away from needing this service," Dr. Campbell said, arguing a local CSU would provide an alternative to law-enforcement transports and long ER waits.

Commissioners pressed Tri County on details public audiences earlier had sought: whether the appropriation covered land acquisition, construction or other expenses, who would own and maintain property, and what written policies govern patient return or discharge. Don Van Steeb of Tri County said the intended footprint would have to be deeded to Tri County to comply with grant stipulations and that Tri County would be responsible for facility maintenance under any lease arrangements. He also said the practice is to return stabilized patients to their last known address, though he acknowledged that practice is not codified in a written county statute.

Peace River Centers CEO, Larry Williams, who runs existing CSUs in the region and currently receives Hardee County transports, asked to meet individually with commissioners before they made decisions. He provided utilization context: "It was a 136 people in 2025 that were transported to my Bartow facility, which averages out to about 1.5 people that stay with us per day from Hardee County," he said, and cautioned commissioners to consider regional capacity and cost per bed when evaluating a new local facility.

Tri County and board members discussed operational details: how law enforcement would handle full-capacity situations (triaged to other regional CSUs), funding for uninsured patients (Medicaid, Department of Children and Families reimbursements and state low-income pool funding for charity care), expected staffing (Tri County estimated about 25—30 employees and an annual payroll near $2.5 million) and the likely site footprint (roughly one-third to one-half acre and a building under 10,000 square feet).

Commissioners generally thanked Tri County for the briefing and indicated they would expect legal review and further details before considering any formal county commitment or land conveyance. The presentation closed with Tri County offering follow-up meetings to answer constituent questions.