Emergency Community Support (ECS)

This program is designed for individuals over age 19 who identify as being in crisis related to mental health and/or substance abuse issues. We provide support, promote recovery, resolve crises, and promote meaningful community participation. ECS allows individuals to lead, control, and determine their own path of recovery by optimizing independence and control of resources to achieve a self-determined life.

The individual will receive resources, information and assistance related to:

  1. Promoting recovery
  2. Promoting meaningful community participation
  3. Resolving crises and promote stabilization
  4. Promoting successful transition and tenure in the community
  5. Preventing future need for higher levels of care
  6. Allow consumers to lead, control, exercise choice over, and determine their own path of recovery by optimizing independence and control of resources to achieve a self-determined life

WCHR's Emergency Community Support (ECS) program is funded through the Nebraska Division of Behavioral Health. Consumers are not charged any fees for this program.

To be admitted to the ECS Program, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Age 19 years or older (Potential exception for 18 years old)
  2. Persons must reside within the Panhandle area of Nebraska
  3. Persons identified as being in crisis related to mental health and/or substance abuse issues
  4. May be voluntary or as a result of Emergency Protective Custody or Mental Health Board Commitment
  5. Persons desiring to improve their quality of life

Services are provided for the consumer in the consumers' home or place of choice. Normal appointment hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. A Service Coordination can be contacted during the evening and/or weekends only in the case of an emergency. The crisis line number is given to all ECS consumers. For the purposes of this program, an emergency occurs when a consumer thinks that he/she may be about to hurt him/herself or someone else.

Any individual can refer themselves or refer another person. The Human Services Manager contacts all individuals referred within seven business days of receiving the referral.

Services are provided in Dawes, Sheridan, Sioux and Box Butte Counties.

Call 308-747-2402 or 800-717-1231 if you are interested in the program.