Crisis Services moves and expands to serve community


Posted October 4, 2022

Children's Service Center has announced enhancements to its Crisis Intervention Service, extending walk-in hours and increasing availability of mobile crisis assessments for individuals and families in Luzerne and Wyoming counties. The services provide rapid response to mental health situations which threaten the well-being of the individual in crisis, or others.

Beginning November 1, children and adolescents, as well as adult clients of Robinson Counseling Center, will be seen on the CSC Wilkes-Barre campus, in addition to telephone and mobile crisis support.

Call 570-825-6425 and Press 1

  • Telephone Crisis: Available 24/7
  • Mobile Crisis: Available 24/7 after phone consultation.
  • Walk-in Crisis:Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Saturday and Sunday 11:00 AM to 7:00 PMat 335 S. Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702

According to President and CEO Mike Hopkins, community-based Crisis Intervention is essential to providing the full range of needed services along with mental health and substance use disorder programs at Children's Service Center and Robinson Counseling Center. "While serving more than 11,000 clients annually, our goal with Crisis Intervention is to provide immediate assessment, comfort and support, making a rapid connection to appropriate treatment. The services are designed to prevent hospitalization, and ensure appropriate follow-up to address the long-term health needs of individuals and families," Hopkins said.

"Accessing crisis services should be done in the safest, most comfortable place for clients and the families. Whether it is the Children's Service Center office, in the client's home, at school or another community location, a crisis assessment should minimize disruption to normal routines," said Crisis Services Director Elizabeth Hollinger. "Our crisis clinicians provide interventions and support to resolve crisis situations, while offering referrals to appropriate outpatient services, including community-based services."

Last year, Children's Service Center responded to 1,957 crisis, providing immediate treatment and support to diffuse or resolve precipitating stress related to disturbed thought, behavior, mood, or social relationships. Mental Health Crisis Intervention includes assessment, counseling, screening and disposition services, which are commonly considered appropriate to the provision of mental health crisis intervention.

Founded in 1862, Children's Service Center and its adult care affiliate, Robinson Counseling Center, operate a comprehensive behavioral health network to address mental health, substance use disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and primary care. More than 11,000 children and adults receive care annually at offices in Wilkes-Barre, Tunkhannock, Honesdale, Hazleton, and Danville, as well as home and school settings across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.