County’s crisis walk-in center in Victorville is moving

Valley Star High Desert Crisis Walk-In Center is moving to 12240 Hesperia Rd. (north of Bear Valley Road) in Victorville as of Dec. 8. The new center is just four miles away from the current location in a larger and newer building in a more central location. The Crisis Walk-in Center (CWIC) is for those needing immediate access to crisis mental health services, is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, and is available to those of all ages experiencing significant emotional or psychological stress. It is operated by Valley Star Community Services under a contract with the County of San Bernardino Department of Behavioral Health.

The CWIC (pronounced “The Quick”) provides important services to children, adolescents, adults, and older adults in need of immediate crisis intervention and stabilization. It is an alternative to psychiatric inpatient hospitalization, emergency rooms, and even jail. The center helps to stabilize the vast majority of individuals, preventing the need for hospitalization and/or involuntary treatment. It serves an estimated 4,000 individuals each year, and it can serve as many as 12 people at any given time.

The CWIC is voluntary and offered in an unlocked setting, with a stay of up to 23 hours. Individuals admitted into the crisis stabilization unit will be provided with services and supports to ensure their safe transition to the next level of care, or back to the community. Services include crisis stabilization and intervention, individual counseling, medication management, substance abuse treatment, family counseling, and education.

Those coming to the center may reside in the High Desert, but the center will not exclude any resident of the County of San Bernardino in need of immediate access to crisis mental health services. Services will be offered to people who walk in, call, who come in with emergency responders or law enforcement or who are brought in by friends or family.

For referrals, call (760) 245-8837 or for information, email HDCWIC@starsinc.com. TTY users please dial 7-1-1.