Baton Rouge Area Foundation Plans To Create Community Mental Health Diversion Center

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation in Louisiana has recommended the development of a new community diversion center and a mobile crisis unit for individuals with mental illness. The goal is to develop crisis stabilization services as an alternative to emergency departments or jail. The diversion center, to be called the BRidge Center, would provide sobering beds, a medical detoxification program, and a behavioral health respite program, as well as follow-up services to help people continue with recommended treatment, find housing, and find employment.

The plan was unveiled on February 22, 2016. To establish the BRidge Center, the foundation plans . . .