As funding for mental health services continues to dwindle, there are fewer options for those in need.

The Hope Wellness Crisis Center in Woodward began serving residents in Guthrie, Dallas, Greene and Audubon counties around a year and a half ago.

Services Director Karen Rosengreen says their goal is to reduce the number of people who are involuntarily hospitalized or inappropriately incarcerated.

“They are able to come and stay with us and it’s just a little bit lower than a step down from acute level care, so not inpatient psychiatric treatment but coming in for crisis stabilization.  We focus on skill building and daily therapy and it’s really just a time out from their normal life so they can get back on their feet.”

Rosengreen says individuals in the crisis center typically stay there for less than a week, while they also offer a Transitional Living Center that provides short term, two to three month, housing for those who are coming out of hospitalization.

A link to more information can be found at www.genesisdevelopment.com