April 16, 2026
Utica, NY – Upstate Caring Partners is pleased to announce the opening of the Supportive Crisis Stabilization Center. The center is located adjacent to the Giotto Center’s Community Health and Behavioral Services at 1002 Oswego Street in Utica, NY.
The Supportive Crisis Stabilization Center (SCSC) provides 24/7, voluntary, short-term care for people in mental health or substance use crises, acting as an alternative to emergency rooms by providing immediate support, de-escalation, coping skills, peer support, and connections to ongoing treatment in a safe, non-clinical setting. They focus on stabilizing individuals without immediate risk of serious harm, helping with emotional regulation, and creating safety plans, all with a strong emphasis on recovery and peer-led support.
“Providing responsive care to community members in crisis remains a critical need, and a particularly challenging one, even as we have improved the scope and scale of mental health and substance use services overall,” explained Executive Director, Geno DeCondo. “Too often there are limited resources across our emergency rooms and first responders who already have a wide scope of responsibility. Our Supportive Crisis Stabilization Center offers immediate care in a safe, non-clinical setting focused on stabilization, recovery and connection to ongoing treatment. This strengthens the continuum of care available to those in need in our community, and helps relieve pressure on emergency rooms and first responders, ensuring people receive the right support at the right time.”
DeCondo noted that Oneida County and the New York State Office of Mental Health and Office of Addiction Services and Supports were instrumental in supporting the development of the SCSC, alongside additional community partners.
“This new Supportive Crisis Stabilization Center is a critical addition to our community’s behavioral health system and a major step forward in how we respond to individuals in crisis,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “Oneida County is proud to commit funding to support this initiative and ensure its long-term success. By providing immediate, compassionate care in a safe and supportive environment, this center will help people get the assistance they need at the right time, while easing the burden on our emergency rooms and first responders. This is exactly the kind of investment that
strengthens our continuum of care and improves outcomes for our residents.”
For more information on behavioral health services offered through Upstate Caring Partners, visit Upstate Caring Partners’ website at upstatecp.org/behavioral-health
Upstate Caring Partners provides innovative programs and services that support and create
opportunities for people of all abilities.
###
