Mental Health Emergency Center
The Mental Health Emergency Center in Milwaukee, operated by Advocate Aurora Health, provides 24/7 emergency mental health services for adults, children, and adolescents, including assessment, stabilization, and treatment.
Services
The Mental Health Emergency Center provides 24/7/365 emergency mental health services for adults, children, and adolescents. Services include assessment, stabilization, and treatment of mental health emergencies. The center connects patients and families to ongoing treatment and supportive services. Furthermore, it offers separate treatment areas for children and adolescents and provides six adult inpatient beds for short-term stabilization. Note that it does not take appointments or provide prescription refills.
Location and Facilities
The Mental Health Emergency Center is situated at 1525 N. 12th Street in Milwaukee. It features distinct treatment areas designated for children and adolescents. While the center offers six adult inpatient beds for short-term stabilization, children and adolescents requiring inpatient services are transferred to a pediatric mental health facility. The center does not provide emergency medical services such as laboratory or radiography care.
Operational Structure
Advocate Aurora Health operates the Mental Health Emergency Center in collaboration with Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services and other Milwaukee-based health systems. The center employs about 70 full-time equivalent staff, including peer support professionals. It serves as a training facility for psychiatric medical residents and offers professional educational opportunities for other mental health personnel. Efforts are being made with the State of Wisconsin to enhance crisis reimbursement to ensure its long-term viability.
Funding and Financials
The construction and start-up costs for the Mental Health Emergency Center were estimated at $18 million, with these costs equally shared between the County and the health systems. The center is expected to operate with an annual loss of $12 million, with these operating shortfalls also split 50/50. The center welcomes philanthropic and corporate gifts to support its various programs and services.