Summary: Connections Health Solutions will operate King County’s Crisis Care Center in Seattle — a key step forward in meeting the pressing need for urgent crisis care in our region’s largest city, as part of the transformational investment to expand 24/7 behavioral health crisis services so they are readily available to everyone in King County.  

Story

King County’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) today announced that Connections Health Solutions will operate the second Crisis Care Center in King County. Funded by the voter-approved initiative, Crisis Care Centers provide 24/7 care for people who are experiencing a mental health, drug, or alcohol crisis.  

Thanks to the support of Executive Braddock, the King County Council and the City of Seattle, the second Crisis Care Center will be located at 1145 Broadway in Seattle’s First Hill and Capitol Hill neighborhoods. 

Connections Health Solutions is a national leader in providing crisis care and was selected following a competitive Request for Proposal process. The organization has a strong track record of delivering accessible, high-quality specialized care for people of all ages throughout the country. 

“Partnering with Connections Health Solutions will allow us to meet the urgency of this moment and ensure the next Crisis Care Center is opened and operated successfully to support and strengthen the immediate surrounding neighborhood and our whole community,” said Kelly Rider, Director, DCHS. 

“Improving access to behavioral health crisis care is essential to the well-being of King County and the region. Immediate, compassionate treatment not only supports people in crisis but also reduces costly hospitalizations and eases pressure on public health and judicial systems,” said Joel Conger, West Regional President for Connections Health Solutions. “The new centrally located, state-of-the-art Crisis Care Center will offer high-quality behavioral health care around the clock, and we’re proud to continue working with King County, local leaders, law enforcement, first responders, providers, and community partners to expand these life-saving services in King County.” 

Connections Health Solutions also operates King County’s first Crisis Care Center in Kirkland, which opened last year. Today, anyone can walk in 24/7 for urgent care, regardless of whether they have health insurance or not. Since opening in August 2024, the center has served nearly 4,000 patients who were experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Over 75% of patients at the full-service 23-hour observation unit and 96% in the crisis stabilization unit avoided more costly and restrictive higher levels of care. In fact, first responders have praised the center’s operations and efficient drop-off that frees them up for public safety and other emergency response. 

A communal space for patients at Connections Kirkland

“Today, everyone has 988 to call and crisis teams to respond in a crisis,” said Susan McLaughlin, director of DCHS’s Behavioral Health & Recovery Division.  “This award completes our network of 24/7 crisis services in Seattle by making sure people also have a Crisis Care Center to go with teams who follow-up with people after they leave. We look forward to supporting this center’s success and fostering collaboration across all of our crisis care providers, including Connections Health Solutions, Crisis Connections, the Downtown Emergency Service Center and Sound Behavioral Health.” 

Investing in the Behavioral Health Workforce 

Connections Health Solutions staff members at the new Broadway site will be eligible for the SEIU Healthcare Training Fund’s BEAM program, which makes its resources available to providers in the King County Integrated Care Network. The Crisis Care Centers Initiative invested $4 million to expand the program, which offers reimbursements for trainings, certifications, and tuition to help local workers advance their careers. Initiative funding also supports competitive wages, benefits, worker wellbeing, and paid apprenticeships. 

“This announcement will help us successfully open our second Crisis Care Center, providing much-needed treatment and relief to the community,” said King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda. “I look forward to people from the community going through workforce development programs funded by the Crisis Care Center levy such as the behavioral health apprenticeship program led by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW, and working in this facility to be part of the solution providing care to their friends and neighbors during their time of need. The selection of a provider for the new Crisis Care Center on Broadway means we are one step closer to opening another robust behavioral health clinic to get people into the care and recovery needed, instead of directing those in crisis to emergency rooms or jail cells.”   

The staff area at Connections Kirkland

Building Improvements and Design 

Connections Health Solutions and King County will partner with the City of Seattle on design improvements for the future center. Renovations are planned to begin in 2026, with the Crisis Care Center expected to open by the end of 2027.  

The state-of-the-art design prototype for these new facilities is a shift from traditional emergency room-based interventions. Crisis Care Centers incorporate therapeutic design, colors, and safety standards.  The goal is to create a welcoming place that people—often in their most challenging moments—feel comfortable going to for mental health and substance use care. Listening to input from people with lived experience in receiving crisis care will be part of the design process. 

The Seattle Police Department will also oversee a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) safety assessment. The resulting recommendations will be implemented and may include better lighting, clear sightlines, and security features to help ensure the building and surrounding area are safe, secure, and welcoming for guests and the community.  

Outside the future Crisis Care Center in Seattle.

More Community Engagement, A Good Neighborhood Agreement & Community Advisory Board 

Over the last six months, DCHS has engaged hundreds of community members in the Capitol Hill and First Hill neighborhoods. This engagement will continue in close partnership with the City of Seattle and Connections Health Solutions and include information sessions for residents, organizations, hospitals, schools, businesses, and more.  

As the selected operator, Connections Health Solutions will develop a Good Neighbor Agreement that includes outreach and engagement with the neighboring community members. The operator will also be responsible for convening a community advisory board to ensure that the center is responsive to the diverse and unique needs of the neighborhood, as well as provide input on the degree to which Crisis Care Center services are, or are not, meeting community needs.    

More About the Crisis Care Center Initiative & Upcoming Milestones  

In 2023, King County voters overwhelmingly approved the Crisis Care Centers Initiative.  

One year after the King County Council adopted the levy’s implementation plan, DCHS has made significant progress in expanding crisis services:  

  • King County’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 (call or text)   
  • More mobile crisis teams for adults and youth are up and running, receiving more than 5,000 referrals in 2025 so far 
  • The first of five Crisis Care Centers (Connections Kirkland) is now open for all adults over the age of 18 in Kirkland, providing 24/7 walk-in mental health and substance use treatment 
  • In October, Connections Kirkland began accepting youth ages four to 17. The new youth urgent care is available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
  • The behavioral health workforce received a $16.8 million investment, helping to address the workforce shortage, increase representation and strengthen treatment outcomes 
  • A new program embedding 988 crisis counselors in 911 call centers is now operating 24/7 in South King County. 99% of behavioral health crisis calls diverted to 988 are resolved. 

Future Crisis Care Center Initiative milestones are in progress, including: 

  • A Crisis Training Academy to train more people in crisis care, as well as de-escalation, will open in 2026. The RFP recently closed, and applications are in review. 
  • DCHS is partnering with jurisdictions to begin early planning and engagement for potential sites in South and East King County, plus one for youth. 
  • DCHS plans to open a second round of Request for Proposals to select future Crisis Care Center operators and locations by the end of 2025. 

To learn more about the Crisis Care Center Initiative and upcoming opportunities to engage, visit our webpage. 

The next virtual community meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. on December 3, 2025 and will include presentations from YMCA, who operates King County’s crisis teams for youth, as well as members from the Designated Crisis Responders team. Register today!