The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (OASAS) today announced the opening of the first 24-hour Crisis Stabilization Center on Long Island. The $4.7 million Diagnostic Assessment and Stabilization Hub (DASH) is located in Hauppauge and operated by the Family Service League.

The DASH facility is a collaborative project between OMH and OASAS and operates as Suffolk County’s first open access center, which helps ensure that anyone in need of addiction services has immediate access to treatment 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“This new open access center in Suffolk County will provide individuals on Long Island with access to treatment at any time,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Co-Chair of the NYS Heroin and Opioid Abuse Task Force. “Investments in facilities like these are critical, providing the resources and services needed to assist those struggling with addiction and help them on the road to recovery. The opening of this center continues our efforts to combat the opioid epidemic across the state and ensure the health and safety of all New Yorkers.”

The crisis stabilization center, located at 90 Adams Avenue in Hauppauge, will provide immediate engagement, assessment, and referral services at any time of day or night. This direct access to care will help avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency department visits, provide jail diversion services and manage treatment of co-existing mental health and substance use disorders (SUD). 

OMH invested more than $3.5 million in DASH to build its infrastructure, and is committing $1.3 million annually for operational costs. OMH also provided a $500,000 jail diversion block grant for Crisis Intervention Team training to educate local law enforcement on de-escalation techniques, the best intervention methods when approaching someone in a mental health crisis, and the new DASH resource.

The DASH will also serve as a base for the SUD Center of Treatment Innovation (COTI) being implemented by Family Service League. This COTI is made possible by more than $1.2 million in funding distributed by OASAS under the State Targeted Response Grant and is one of 20 across the state. COTIs are tasked with expanding access to treatment of opioid use disorder through peer services, mobile service delivery, and telepractice capability. COTIs work to break down existing barriers to treatment and connect people seeking services to the help that they need. In addition, OASAS is also committing more than $1.3 million annually in state funding for programs operated by Family Services League.

The opening of this facility builds on the ongoing commitment of OASAS to establish 24-hour open access centers throughout the state. These centers are a key component of Governor Cuomo's plan to provide a full continuum of addiction care, including rapid access to addiction medications, such as buprenorphine. In 2018, more than 3,500 individuals were served by an open access center in New York state. Seventy-seven percent of them received services within three hours of contacting the center and nearly half received services outside of normal business hours.

“Crisis intervention services are vital to supporting individuals with mental illness and those with coexisting substance abuse concerns,” said Office of Mental Health Commissioner, Dr. Ann Sullivan. “DASH gives Suffolk County easier access to care and a treatment model that showcases patient-centered care and focuses on recovery. OMH is proud to be involved in the creation and funding of this center and the network of care it will provide for the individuals we serve.”

“For people who are unable to receive treatment during normal business hours, these centers can be the link they need to receive critical care to address their addiction,” said OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez. “With the establishment of this first-of-its kind facility on Long Island, people in more communities will have access to these vital services and the opportunity to rebuild their lives from addiction.”

“Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s leadership and continued support, Long Island’s first Diagnostic, Assessment, and Stabilization Hub will address critical gaps in care, providing life-saving services for our residents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” said Suffolk County Executive Bellone. “To address the ongoing demand for immediate access to care and services for individuals and families managing substance use and mental health issues, the County has implemented a multi-pronged behavioral health crisis response initiative, that includes the support of our police department and our health department.”  

“In response to the many individuals and families seeking timely access and supports for behavioral health issues, we are excited to have the DASH program available to meet their needs,” said Ann Marie Csorny, Director of Community Services, Suffolk County Mental Hygiene. “With an integrated approach to engagement, and through collaboration with the network of community providers, the DASH program will quickly assess, treat and link to ongoing services with the individual’s provider of choice, close to their home.”

“We are enormously grateful that Family Service League was selected to operate DASH, as the first 24-hour Crisis Stabilization on Long Island. This innovative model will become the standard for Long Island”, said Karen Boorshtein, President & CEO of Family Service League.

“The development of the DASH program and related integrated crisis services represents the culmination of great collaboration and vision which will, in an unprecedented way ensure that those in need will receive the right services, at the right time and in the right location”, said Dr. Jeffrey Steigman, Chief Administrative Officer at Family Service League. “This model will be truly diversionary, preventative and recovery focused and will change the landscape in Suffolk County”.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, community residence, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website. Visit CombatAddiction.ny.gov to learn more about the warning signs of addiction, review information on how to get help, and access resources on how to facilitate conversations with loved ones and communities about addiction. For tools to use in talking to a young person about preventing alcohol or drug use, visit the state’s Talk2Prevent website.