When you have a physical health crisis, you visit a hospital’s emergency room, but when you have a mental health or substance use crisis, you come to Charlotte Behavioral Health Care’s Central Receiving Facility (CRF).

A mental health crisis can occur when negative emotions, stress, and/or reactions to a traumatic event become so intense that individuals have thoughts of harming themselves or another person. A substance use crisis can occur when an individual is so impaired by substance use that they are a danger to themselves or others. Our CRF is a secure, short-term, inpatient unit for intensive behavioral, emotional or substance use situations. Voluntary detox is also provided on the unit.

Our CRF provides assessment and referral services twenty-four hours a day for mental health and substance-related crises and provides a safe environment for the purpose of stabilizing clients during a period of crisis.

The CRF is the hub for clients accessing inpatient services. This department provides psychiatric and substance abuse assessment and screening, and manages admissions to our inpatient units. If a patient is not admitted to the CRF they are provided with outpatient and community referrals based on that individual’s needs.

Click here for our Crisis Service Patient Handbook.

Our Margo Lang Crisis Stabilization Unit is a newly expanded and remodeled, comfortable facility that provides assessment and treatment services 24/7. The CSU is a 30-bed inpatient facility with separate adult and children’s units designed to serve those who are experiencing an acute mental health or substance use crisis and in immediate need of crisis intervention and stabilization services – voluntarily or involuntarily – because they are unable to care for themselves or are a danger to themselves or others due to mental illness or substance use.

Our professional staff provides individualized structured treatment plans and therapeutic activities to individuals with acute behavioral health or substance use issues. Our goal is to stabilize you, assist you or your loved one through your crisis situation, and provide linkage to outpatient treatment and other community resources for ongoing support and recovery.

Perhaps the most important aspect of crisis stabilization is making sure the patient/family connects to follow up services.  Our Engagement Specialists monitor your follow up and contact you to provide support, identify barriers to follow up and offer solutions, and to schedule another appointment as quickly as possible. Tracking your follow up is one key way that Charlotte Behavioral Health Care staff ensure your success and avoidance of future crises.

For a tour inside the Margo Lang Children’s Crisis Stabilization unit, click here.

Our Central Receiving Facility (CRF) offers:

• Assessment and treatment services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for children, adolescents, and adults.
• Staffing includes nurses, technicians, and therapists who support the safety and stabilization of people in an acute mental health or substance abuse crisis who are a danger to themselves or others because of their mental illness or substance use.
• Voluntary and involuntary Baker Act and Marchman Act admissions to residents of Charlotte and DeSoto counties.
• Psychiatric evaluation and psychiatrist rounds daily.
• Voluntary detox

Many of the people we help are admitted involuntarily under the Baker Act Law and are potentially at risk to themselves or others. No matter how you enter the program, we are committed to serving your mental health and substance abuse needs with dignity, respect and compassion.

The Florida Mental Health Act, also known as the “Baker Act,” was enacted in 1971 as a means of helping families and loved ones seek evaluation and involuntary services of a mentally ill individual who:

• Is incapable of determining the need for care due to mental illness.
• Is likely to suffer neglect.
• Refuses to care for himself or herself, posing a threat to his or her well-being.
• May pose a danger to themselves or others.

Involuntary Examination court orders may be issued for examination up to 72 hours. Involuntary Placement petitions are heard within five days, with a public defender appointed to represent the patient. If the court concludes the patient meets statutory criteria, it may order involuntary treatment for up to six months. Law Enforcement are also authorized to transport an individual to an evaluation facility if there is reason to believe the individual’s behavior meets statutory guidelines for involuntary examination under the Baker Act.

Many of the people we help are admitted involuntarily under the Marchman Act Law and are potentially at risk to themselves or others. No matter how you enter the program, we are committed to serving your mental health and substance abuse needs with dignity, respect and compassion.

The Florida Hal S. Marchman Alcohol and Other Drug Services Act, also known as the “Marchman Act,” was enacted in 1993 as a means of helping families and loved ones seek evaluation and involuntary services of an individual who is substance use impaired and because of such impairment, the person has:

• Lost the power of self control with respect to substance use, and either
• Has inflicted or attempted/threatened to inflict, or, unless admitted for treatment, is likely to inflict, physical harm to him/herself or another; or
• The person’s judgment has been so impaired because of substance use that he/she is incapable of appreciating the need for substance use services and to make a rational decision regarding substance use services

Involuntary Examination court orders may be issued for examination up to 72 hours. Involuntary Placement petitions are heard within five days, with a public defender appointed to represent the patient. If the court concludes the patient meets statutory criteria, it may order involuntary treatment in 90-day increments. After a 90-day increment, the court may then order additional 90 days extensions if statutory criteria exists.

Law Enforcement are also authorized to transport an individual to an evaluation facility if there is reason to believe the individual’s behavior meets statutory guidelines for involuntary examination under the Marchman Act.

The Voluntary Detoxification Program is a medically supervised program that serves persons 18 years of age and older who are experiencing symptoms of withdrawal due to drugs and/or alcohol. Detox staff assist each patient in his or her recovery. Many of the recovery-centered services include group therapy, yoga, co-occurring treatment, nursing/medical care, educational and wellness groups.

A voluntary admission occurs when a person seeks treatment for substance abuse and applies to a service provider to receive such treatment.

We understand that a crisis can happen at any hour, so these services are available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Early intervention in a crisis can prevent longer term hospitalization and stabilize acute psychiatric and substance abuse conditions.

Please call 9-1-1 or the CPE Mobile Crisis Unit at (844) 395-4432  at any hour if you or someone in your family needs immediate assistance.

Learn to mitigate an overdose!

The road to recovery has bumps (relapse). Many times, individuals leave their detox/recovery program, and, after a period of abstinence, do not realize the risks that follow. Relapse after a period of sobriety can be very dangerous. Whether you currently use drugs, are in recovery, or have a loved one struggling with substance use disorder, you will learn valuable information to mitigate the risk of an overdose and stop an overdose while it is happening.

Overdose deaths are preventable. This aftercare program offers evidence-based strategies and tools you need to reduce the risks of dying from an overdose. Harm reduction incorporates a spectrum of strategies that includes safer use, managed use, abstinence, meeting people who use drugs “where they’re at,” and addressing conditions of use along with the use itself. Each individual who uses substances set their own goals.

Some topics addressed in the aftercare group include:
• Developing a recovery action plan/support network
• Harm reduction techniques
• Self-care
• Providing a safe and nurturing environment to re-establish a sense of community

Not sure about sobriety yet? We invite you to attend even if you are currently using.

Click here for more information.