Building a Future for Behavioral Health: 3 “On the Boards” Crisis Diversion Centers

1. A Calmer, Safer Path to Recovery

Designing Orange County’s First Behavioral Health Diversion Center

Set to open in late 2026, the Orange County Crisis Diversion Center will offer a vital alternative to hospital emergency departments and county correctional facilities—two places where individuals in behavioral health crisis often end up due to a lack of dedicated care options. Designed in partnership with Orange County and RHA Health Services, the 22,000 sq. ft. facility will be strategically located just outside downtown Hillsborough, steps from first responder routes and essential community services.

The $25 million center will provide 24/7 access to walk-in assessments, short-term observation units and a 16-bed stabilization area supporting both mental health and non-hospital detox needs. Follow-up care coordination spaces will also support continuity of care, helping individuals transition safely back into the community.

Expected to serve upwards of 365 visits per month, the design will emphasize trauma-informed care—incorporating natural light, calming finishes and spatial clarity to reduce stress and promote recovery. As the region confronts growing mental health needs, this facility represents a timely, purpose-built solution for crisis response in the Triad.

2. Cleveland’s Continuum of Care

Expanding Behavioral Health Access with The Centers

On the former St. Vincent Charity Medical Center campus, a long-vacant medical building is being reimagined into a critical new resource for behavioral health care in Cuyahoga County. Led by The Centers, a local nonprofit behavioral health and social services provider, a new Crisis Diversion Center will offer residents access to urgent behavioral care, mental health or substance use crises.

Set to open in 2026, the 34,000 sq. ft. facility is being developed in partnership through The Centers with Cuyahoga County leadership, the ADAMHS Board and local healthcare providers, designed in close collaboration with local healthcare providers to ensure a seamless coordinated approach to care. Spread across three floors, the program will include:

• First Floor: Walk-in triage, assessment units and a 40-recliner observation area for individuals in active crisis
• Second Floor: 16 inpatient beds for detox and mental health recovery
• Third Floor: Full-service outpatient clinic offering psychiatry, counseling and primary care

This $28 million investment will strengthen Cleveland’s behavioral health infrastructure, redirecting hundreds of individuals each month toward compassionate, purpose-built care.

3. Restoring Stability, Close to Home

Introducing the H.O.P.E. Campus for Children in State Custody

On Cleveland’s West Side, a reimagined campus dedicated to youth in crisis is taking shape. Known today as the historic Cleveland Christian Home on Lorain Avenue, the 75,000 sq. ft. H.O.P.E. Campus—short for Healing, Opportunities, Partnership, Empowerment—will serve as a centralized hub for residential care, behavioral health treatment and supportive services for children in Cuyahoga County custody.

The campus will provide housing, treatment and support for youth in county custody—from early childhood through age 18—including survivors of trafficking, orphans and those with severe emotional or behavioral challenges. The secure facility will feature six residential units supporting up to 50 children, alongside a Welcome Center with private intake rooms, family meeting areas, rapid assessment spaces and care coordination offices.

Therapeutic design strategies—such as calming color palettes, sensory-friendly finishes and clear, intuitive circulation paths—will foster emotional stability and healing throughout the campus. In addition to residential and crisis services, the program includes a conference space to host peer groups, life skills training and community workshops.

Slated to open in 2026, the $25 million H.O.P.E. Campus is expected to connect Cuyahoga County’s most vulnerable children with specialized care in a setting built for restoration and growth.