WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — The Washington County Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) is set to shut down later this year.
According to Tad Sours, the Communications Director for Washington County, the county received notice on March 27 that the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences had initiated a termination clause.
The move means that within the next 90 days, the Crisis Stabilization Unit will wrap up its operations, with an official shutdown date set for the end of June.
Sours says there are no plans to find another service provider.
"UAMS has been a great partner, and we appreciate their service to Washington County. They have been gracious in their handling of this difficult situation," Sours said. "While we deeply regret the loss of such an amazing community resource, the lack of support and structure from the State of Arkansas has made the continued operation of the CSU impossible in Washington County."
According to the county's website, the CSU, also called the Northwest Arkansas Crisis Stabilization Unit, is a "16-bed voluntary behavioral health program for persons in need of an alternative to inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, emergency departments, or diversion from criminal justice involvement."
UAMS provided to following statement to 5NEWS:
"After careful consideration, UAMS has made the difficult decision to withdraw from our contract to operate the Northwest Arkansas Crisis Stabilization Unit. As a state institution, UAMS strives to provide needed and necessary service where we can around the state. It is our responsibility to apply our resources where they will serve the greatest number of people. Unfortunately, this CSU is lightly utilized relative to its designed capacity, and it’s no longer feasible for us to continue to provide the necessary staff and resources needed to maintain the facility. We hope to work with the County, the State, and the community to transition the facility to a new partner or to connect patients to other suitable services in other settings in Northwest Arkansas."
The unit was established in 2017 when lawmakers created four crisis stabilization units across populous areas in Arkansas under Act 423. The units are located in Pulaski County, Sebastian County, Washington County, and Craighead County.
The unit, located at 105 N Mill Ave. in Fayetteville, initially opened in 2019 but closed two years later in 2021. Ozark Guidance was the original provider that partnered with the county and state to open the unit. It was closed in 2021 before reopening in 2022 under service provider UAMS.
After facing closure in 2023 due to budget cuts, the unit was able to remain open after Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders approved extra money for an improvement plan for the stabilization unit.
Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins says the other units in the state worked closely with a mental health court, "I wish the CSU could have been here long enough for the mental health court to be well established because there is definitely a symbiotic relationship between those two entities."
A mental health court is designed to give individuals with mental health issues who have broken the law long-term treatment.
Judge Deakins says he will use the 90-day period before the CSU officially closes to brainstorm with Sheriff Cantrell, local law enforcement, and community partners about other potential resources. They will also continue to develop a mental health court in Washington County.
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