about crestwood Santa Barbara CSS, Access Line & Mobile Crisis Team

Crestwood’s Santa Barbara Crisis Stabilization Services (CSS) provides a safe and warm place to land for those who are experiencing a mental health crisis. This is their first step on their road to recovery. The CSS is certified to serve 8 adult clients and is open 24-hours a day, 7-days a week and no appointment is necessary.

Located in the beautiful central California coastal city of Santa Barbara, Clients are welcomed into our safe, calming and homelike environment, where they will receive compassionate recovery support from our diverse team of clinical staff who are trained in Trauma-Informed Approaches of care. Our clients are provided with comprehensive mental health services and support for up to 23 hours. After which, they are referred to mental health services in the community that will best meet their needs, so that they may continue their recovery journey.

Take a tour of our Santa Barbara Crisis Stabilization Services

Special Features

• Staff fully trained in Trauma-Informed Approaches.
• Comprehensive Assessment.
• Medication assessment, administration and management.
• Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training.
• Counseling from peers and trained staff.
• Close observation and monitoring to determine need for further evaluation, hold or referrals.
• Dual-recovery assessment, support, education and linkage.
• Community services linkage and referrals for aftercare services.
• Intensive discharge planning.
• Cultural and linguistic competent services.
• Spiritual Support.
• Yoga, meditation and relaxation education and support.
• Creative arts resources and supports.
• Nutritional training and individualized support.
• Wellness counseling.
• Natural daytime activities, television, newspapers.
• A medical screening provided by nursing or mid-level staff to assess for a co-occurring medical/substance abuse condition and determine need for immediate medical care.
• Active treatment and crisis intervention strategies to include utilization of a client’s community support system as it relates to family members and peers.
• Referral and linkage to treatment including medical and mental health treatment.

About Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness Access Line

If you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health crisis, we are here to help. Please call out Access Line at 888-868-1649.

The Access Line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you, or someone you know, who is experiencing a mental health crisis or are in need of substance use services. A person is in crisis when they are at risk of hurting themselves, someone else, or unable to provide basic care for themselves due to a suspected mental health issue. The Access Line Specialists will assess the situation and then connect you to the appropriate mental health or substance use services. Crisis services are provided to everyone in Santa Barbara County, regardless of their insurance status or age.

What to expect:

When you call, a Specialist will ask you a few questions. This is a quick process to determine the appropriate services for you or the person who you are calling for.

If the Specialist determines that you, or the person you are calling for:

• Are in crisis, they will connect you to the Mobile Crisis Team.
• Are in an emergency situation, they will connect you to 911.
• Need comprehensive assessment, an appointment will be scheduled.
• Would be better served elsewhere in the community (for instance, if you have private insurance and this is not a crisis), then the Specialist will recommend that you contact your private insurance and will offer a list of providers who offer low cost or sliding scale services.

If this is a life-threatening emergency please call 911 immediately.

About Crestwood Santa Barbara County Mobile Crisis Team

The Crestwood Santa Barbara County Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) is a Mobile Crisis Services Program that provides community-based interventions for those experiencing a mental health crisis.

The Crestwood Santa Barbara County MCT is staffed by Licensed/Registered Mental Health Counselors, Licensed Psychiatric Technician, Licensed Vocational Nurses and Peer Specialists who can provide services throughout Santa Barbara County, including residences, parks, shelters, schools, and hospitals.

If there is immediate danger, call 911 immediately.
For example:
• In the act of committing suicide
• Physically assaulting someone
• Threatening someone with a weapon
• Appears to have a medical emergency

If the behavior is escalating, but the person has not physically harmed or tried to harm anyone, call the Access Line at 888-868-1649.

What to expect from the Access Line:
• A mental health specialist will answer the call.
• Be ready to answer a few quick questions, including the person’s name, location and facts.
• Depending on the need, a mental health counselor may go to your location.
• The Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) works closely with law enforcement (for safety purposes) and may co-respond with Police/Sheriff.
• After a response, the MCT will follow up to provide services.

Mobile Crisis Team Arrival:
• Arrival time depends on the availability of the team and details of the call.
• The Access Line Specialist will let you know when someone from the team will respond.
• The MCT is not a replacement for law enforcement or emergency medical care when there is immediate danger.

Eligibility:
• Mobile Crisis Team services are available to anyone in Santa Barbara County needing support during a mental health crisis, regardless of age or insurance status.

The Crestwood Santa Barbara County Mobile Crisis Team is funded through a partnership with the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness.