Thursday, October 1, 2026
When someone on Long Island experiences a behavioral health crisis, options for immediate, appropriate care have historically been limited. Families often turned to emergency rooms, law enforcement, or outpatient services with long wait times, while managing a complex and often overwhelming system.
Now, a new solution is taking shape in Hicksville. CN Guidance & Counseling Services, a trusted behavioral health nonprofit serving Long Island for more than 50 years, is opening one of the region’s first Intensive Crisis Stabilization Centers, called the Community Crisis Center (CCC). The center, which plans to open its doors to the public on December 6th, will provide immediate, compassionate care for individuals in crisis, offering services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
The CCC addresses a key gap in Long Island’s “Crisis Continuum,” offering a destination for stabilization and care before connecting individuals to longer-term community support. By reducing unnecessary hospital visits and easing strain on emergency services, the center helps residents access timely, appropriate care in a supportive environment.
The CCC also complements CN Guidance’s existing network of behavioral health programs, expanding its continuum of care and reinforcing its role as a central resource for crisis response on Long Island. This initiative contributes to New York state’s evolving public health strategy, creating a more connected system that responds to behavioral health crises with compassion and expertise.
The timing could not be more vital. Long Island continues to face challenges tied to the opioid and synthetic opioid epidemics, youth mental health concerns, and economic stressors that heighten the risk of behavioral health crises. Meanwhile, reductions in healthcare funding are expected to exacerbate these challenges, creating additional barriers to care.
“Crisis stabilization centers support and enhance our ability to quickly respond to New Yorkers experiencing a behavioral health crisis so they can avoid higher levels of care and unnecessary emergency room visits,” said Dr. Ann Sullivan, Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health. “Once completed, CN Guidance’s Community Crisis Center will provide the residents of Long Island with yet another resource they can rely on to get the care they need within their community in a welcoming and supportive environment.”
“The development and ongoing success of CN Guidance’s Community Crisis Center is rooted in the strength of our partnerships and collaborations. From the New York State Office of Mental Health and the Office of Addiction Services and Support and from Nassau County local government agencies—including Law Enforcement, Social Services, and Behavioral Health—and dozens of providers, organizations, and stakeholders, each played a vital role in guiding us from vision to reality,” says Mary Silberstein, Senior Director of External Affairs. “This partnership-driven model empowers us to deliver urgent, compassionate care to individuals aged 5 and up, including adults and seniors, experiencing acute mental health or substance use crises across our region.”
The Community Crisis Center is the result of an extensive collaboration between CN Guidance, Nassau County, and New York State agencies including the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS).
During the planning phase, CN Guidance engaged with more than 55 community partners and received over 50 letters of support representing every corner of the local behavioral health network. Among these were:
This far-reaching collaboration demonstrates a shared, countywide commitment to creating a more connected, compassionate system of care, one where behavioral health crises are met with timely, appropriate responses rather than emergency room visits or law enforcement interventions.
“This center will offer 24/7 urgent walk-in care for anyone experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, providing immediate stabilization and connecting individuals to long-term support,” said Jeffrey Friedman, CEO of CN Guidance. “We extend our gratitude to the state of New York, including OMH and OASAS, as well as our local governments and regional partners, for their support in keeping the Community Crisis Center on track to open in 2025.”
CN Guidance, CEO Jeffrey Friedman; Nassau County Leg. Rose Walker; CN Guidance VP of Program Excellence, Jaclyn McCarthy; and CN Guidance Senior Director of External Affairs, Mary Silberstein in one of the crisis center’s family rooms.
The CCC is staffed by a multidisciplinary team that includes registered nurses, licensed behavioral health professionals, certified peer specialists with lived recovery experience, psychiatric nurse practitioners, substance use counselors, and behavioral health technicians.
Services available at the center include:
The 6,000-square-foot facility has been designed with trauma-informed principles, featuring separate areas for children and families and a dedicated entrance for first responders. The space promotes safety and dignity. This creates an environment where recovery can begin the moment someone walks through the door.
All services are available regardless of ability to pay, and the center accepts insurance and Medicare. Efforts in community engagement help make sure every resident can access the support they need.
CCC Groundbreaking in Nov 2024: L to R: James O’Brien, CN Guidance Board President; Jeffrey Friedman, CN Guidance CEO; Brian Peterson, OMH Long Island Field Office; Maria Morris, NY OASAS; Anissa Moore, Deputy Nassau County Executive – Health & Human Services; Elaine Phillips, Nassau County Comptroller
The design and development of the CCC were guided by feedback from local stakeholders and best practices observed at successful stabilization centers nationwide. With its launch, Long Island joins a growing network of communities across New York State investing in crisis stabilization as a foundation of behavioral health reform.
As CN Guidance continues building partnerships and expanding outreach, the center’s impact will extend beyond its walls, continuously shaping a safer, healthier future for families across the region.
For more information on the CCC or to access support, call 516-390-6544 or visit cnguidance.org and take the first step toward help when it matters most.
