Luzerne County’s first walk-in mental health crisis and stabilization center is near completion in Hazleton, but it cannot be finished and open until an overdue state budget is adopted, according to Tara Fox, county Mental Health/Developmental Services administrator.

County officials had initiated the publicly funded center as part of a statewide push to address mental health crises through walk-in and mobile services instead of overburdened hospital emergency rooms, she said. The center will provide continuous observation and supervision for those in distress when in-patient admission is not warranted.

The crisis center will be operated by the nonprofit Northeast Counseling Services in its property at 750 E. Broad St. near the Lehigh Valley Hospital.

County council allocated $800,000 i

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