Mental Health Access Center

What is an Access Center

Mental Health Access Centers are a new concept in Iowa. They provide crisis care for people experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis that requires immediate attention.

We will quickly assess your situation, provide services and supports to help alleviate your crisis and connect you to community-based services. In doing this, we believe we will ultimately reduce the number of unnecessary hospitalizations and arrests and create a healthier community.  

The effort to create an Access Center in Linn County was led by the Linn County Board of Supervisors in partnership with local law enforcement, hospitals, and local mental health partners. Linn County committed $3.5 million for start-up funding. Linn County's Mental Health Access Center (MHAC) is under the management of Linn County Community Services.

Location

The Linn County Mental Health Access Center is located in the former Linn County Public Health building at 501 13th St. NW, Cedar Rapids. 

Hours

The Mental Health Access Center is open for walk-in hours seven days a week between the hours of 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

For services after hours and on weekends, please call Foundation 2 Mobile Crisis Teams at 319-362-2174.

Eligibility

Anyone who is 18 years of age or older can receive services at the Access Center. The Mental Health Access Center receives funding from the East Central Mental Health Region, so you do not need to be a Linn County resident to receive services. Patients can be brought in by law enforcement or mobile crisis teams. Patients can also be brought in with loved ones or come on their own. Use of Mental Health Access Center services is 100 percent voluntary.

Services Available

• Triage and screening
• Basic vitals
• Mental health screening
• Sobering Unit
• Suicide screening
• Crisis stabilization
  • Evaluation and treatment for those who need observation for a more thorough evaluation
• Subacute services
  • Treatment for those needing a more intensive form of mental health treatment (located offsite)
• Mental health services
  • Psychiatric evaluations
  • Counseling services
  • Prescriber availability
  • Peer services
• Substance use disorder services
  • Screening and evaluation: Work with substance use professional to discuss treatment options
• Care coordination and referrals: Work with Access Center staff to address other underlying issues and make connections to other resources in the community

Key Service Providers

Access Center services are provided by:

• Abbe Health
• Area Ambulance Service
• Foundation 2 Crisis Services
• St. Luke's Chemical Dependency

Service Limitations

The Access Center is not able to serve:

• Individuals in need of immediate medical care
• Individuals who are violent at arrival or immediately prior to arrival with a likelihood that they will seriously hurt themselves, other patients, or our employees
• Minors 17 years old or younger 

Contact Us

Contact Mental Health Access Center staff by email.