Program Spotlight: Stricklin Crisis Stabilization Unit
The commons area of the Stricklin Crisis Stabilization Unit.
“A lot of clients who come in are a bit isolated. Everybody is here for different reasons, but they are all here for help. Here, they talk with each other in a safe, supportive environment and find that they’re not alone in their struggles.”
—Kara Poth, Associate Director of Crisis Services, Stricklin Crisis Stabilization Unit.
The Stricklin Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU), located on the west side of Cleveland, is a 15-bed, short-term treatment facility for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis. It is a voluntary program for adults who don’t require hospital admission but need a higher level of services to stabilize. The average stay lasts approximately 7 days.
A typical day at the CSU begins at 8:30 a.m. with medication and breakfast. Residents attend group therapy at 11:00 am where they learn coping skills to address their mental health symptoms, followed by lunch served at noon. Group therapy sessions are facilitated by licensed social workers, peer support specialists, and case managers.
In the afternoon, residents can leave the CSU to go to work, run errands, or spend time with family and friends. After lunch, the CSU invites residents to engage with its activities assistant working on arts and crafts. Residents have the option to paint birdhouses, make collages, put together puzzles, play games together, and learn prosocial communication skills. They can also choose to meet with their ongoing case manager or social service provider.
At 5 p.m., residents reconvene for dinner, followed by another group therapy session. After the 8 p.m. curfew, everyone remains at the CSU until the next morning.
CSU staff use a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach to help residents reduce their mental health symptoms, restore functioning, connect to support, and reintegrate back into the community. The 24/7 team includes social workers, medical professionals, peer-support specialists, a case manager, and crisis residential assistants.
When residents first enter the CSU, a nurse will greet them to take their vitals and log their medication. A CSU team member will complete their processing with them and take inventory of their belongings. Once processed, the resident will meet with a licensed social worker to complete their crisis assessment and develop an individualized treatment plan. The CSU requires all residents to meet with a prescriber within 24-48 hours of admission to complete a psychiatric evaluation and review current medications. The full treatment team tailors services to each individual’s needs and supports their unique journey to recovery. The communal space and peer support provide a caring foundation to promote recovery.
Referrals to the CSU come from a variety of sources: behavioral health inpatient units, Cuyahoga County’s Adult Mobile Crisis Team, community mental health agencies, self-referrals, and the police.
If you have any potential referrals or questions about the program, contact Kara Poth, Associate Director of Crisis Services, Stricklin Crisis Stabilization Unit at 216-651-9950. Click the button below to learn more.