Traverse City is set to gain a crucial new resource in mental health care, with the Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center preparing to open its doors in January 2025. The center, located at 410 Brook Street on the Munson Medical Center campus, will provide both outpatient and residential services for individuals of all ages facing mental health crises. The public is invited to tour the new facility at an open house scheduled for Tuesday, December 12, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
The center’s launch is the result of extensive renovations to a 22,000-square-foot building that previously housed outpatient behavioral health services. These services have now been relocated to Copper Ridge, and the renovated space will be used to offer specialized crisis care. The new facility will eventually provide 24/7 support, including psychiatric urgent care and crisis residential units for both adults and children.
“The center will address critical gaps in our community’s mental health care system,” said Michael Corby, the facility’s new director. “Research indicates that a comprehensive mental health care model, including crisis services, has a significant positive impact on overall community wellbeing.” He noted that the center’s services will not only provide a safe environment for patients but will also help reduce the strain on other local resources, such as emergency rooms, jails, and inpatient beds.
Munson Healthcare’s Chief Operating Officer, Laura Glenn, echoed Corby’s sentiments, highlighting the increasing demand for mental health services. Many individuals in crisis currently end up in emergency rooms, which are not equipped to handle behavioral health emergencies. “A dedicated facility like this will provide a more appropriate environment for behavioral health care and help free up emergency room resources for medical emergencies,” she said.
The Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center is funded through two major grants: a $5 million allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided by Grand Traverse County, and a $5 million grant from the Michigan Hospital Association, with a specific focus on pediatric services. Additionally, Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority (NLCMHA) received further funding, including a $1.8 million federal appropriation and $3 million in state funding for adult and youth crisis stabilization units.
Staffing at the center will include master’s and bachelor’s level mental health professionals from both Munson Healthcare and NLCMHA. The center is expected to employ between 15 and 20 staff members. “The staffing and operational needs are similar to those of any other nonprofit healthcare organization,” said Terri Lacroix-Kelty, Munson Healthcare’s director of behavioral health. “We’ll be adding services and extending hours as we ramp up staffing throughout the year.”
The center will open in phases, with phase one starting on January 5, 2025, offering services Sunday through Thursday from 8 AM to 8 PM. During this initial phase, the center will provide behavioral health assessments, referrals, and crisis phone screenings, as well as mobile crisis services and peer support. By July 1, 2025, the center will expand to 24/7 operation, including psychiatric urgent care and a “living room model of care” developed by NLCMHA. This model offers a calm, comfortable environment for patients to rest and receive care during a crisis.
Looking ahead, the center plans to add a nine-bed adult crisis residential unit in the summer of 2025, followed by a six-bed pediatric unit in the fall. These units will provide overnight accommodations for patients in more severe crises.
While the center is seen as a vital step forward in addressing behavioral health needs in the community, Glenn emphasized that it is part of a broader, long-term plan to improve mental health care. “This is not the only solution to our behavioral health challenges, but it’s an important component,” she said. “We will continue to learn from this project and expand other mental health initiatives as needed.”
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