Crisis Navigation Program

Available to adults ages 18+, experiencing a behavioral health crisis.  Services are voluntary, short-term and provided up to 30 days in a structured home-like environment.

What Is the Crisis Navigation Program (CNP)?

Navigating behavioral health services during a crisis can be overwhelming. Sacramento County's Crisis Navigation Program (CNP), provided in partnership with Bay Area Community Services (BACS), helps individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges connect with the support and resources they need.

CNP provides individualized care coordination, peer support, and assistance navigating behavioral health and community resources. The program works with individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis, particularly those receiving care in emergency departments, to help connect them with ongoing services and promote stability.

Through collaboration with hospital partners, CNP helps bridge gaps between crisis services and community-based care.

 

Who Does CNP Serve?

The Crisis Navigation Program supports individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges who need assistance navigating services and accessing ongoing care.

CNP serves individuals who:

  • Are experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
  • Are receiving services through participating emergency departments or psychiatric hospitals.
  • Need assistance connecting to ongoing behavioral health treatment.
  • May have difficulty navigating available behavioral health and community resources.
  • Would benefit from individualized care coordination and peer support.
  • Have additional needs related to housing, healthcare, or other essential community resources.

Program eligibility and referral requirements are determined through the CNP referral process.

Services Provided

CNP provides individualized navigation and coordination services designed to help individuals connect with appropriate behavioral health and community-based resources.

Services include:

Individualized Care Coordination

Assistance identifying behavioral health needs, navigating available services, and coordinating connections to ongoing care.

Peer Support

Support from staff with lived experience who understand the challenges of navigating behavioral health systems and can provide encouragement, advocacy, and guidance.

Behavioral Health Service Linkages

Assistance connecting individuals to outpatient behavioral health treatment and other appropriate community-based services.

Housing Resource Navigation

Support identifying and connecting with housing resources and services that may help address housing-related needs.

Community Resource Connections

Assistance accessing additional resources to address urgent needs and support overall stability.

Hospital-to-Community Coordination

Collaboration with hospital partners to help individuals transition from crisis services to ongoing community-based support.

How CNP Works

The Crisis Navigation Program helps individuals navigate behavioral health services through a coordinated, person-centered approach.

  1. Referral

    An individual is referred to CNP through a participating hospital or other eligible referral source using a Referral Form.

  2. Initial Engagement

    CNP staff connect with the individual to discuss their immediate needs, identify barriers to accessing services, and explore available resources.

  3. Individualized Navigation and Support

    CNP Care Coordinators work alongside the individual to help navigate behavioral health services, housing resources, and other community supports.

  4. Connection to Ongoing Services

    CNP helps coordinate connections to appropriate providers and community resources, emphasizing warm handoffs and individualized support.

  5. Supporting Continued Stability

    Through care coordination and connections to ongoing services, CNP works to reduce gaps in care and support individuals as they move toward greater stability.

The Importance of Peer Support

Connecting Through Shared Experience

Peer support is an important component of the Crisis Navigation Program.

BACS utilizes staff with lived experience who understand the challenges individuals may face when navigating behavioral health crises and accessing services.

Peer staff help individuals feel heard, understood, and supported while navigating available resources.

Through shared experience, encouragement, and individualized engagement, peer support helps:

  • Build trust and meaningful connections.
  • Encourage individuals to participate in their recovery.
  • Reduce barriers to accessing services.
  • Promote self-advocacy and empowerment.
  • Provide compassionate support throughout the navigation process.

Hospital Partnerships and Collaboration

Strengthening Connections Between Hospitals and Community-Based Care

The Crisis Navigation Program works collaboratively with hospital partners throughout Sacramento County to help individuals connect with ongoing behavioral health and community services.

Through these partnerships, CNP supports:

  • Coordination between hospital staff and community-based providers.
  • Connections to ongoing behavioral health services.
  • Warm handoffs to appropriate resources.
  • Assistance addressing barriers to accessing care.
  • Improved communication and collaboration among service providers.
  • Continuity of care following a behavioral health crisis

How to Make a Referral

  • Review the CNP program flyer for an overview of available services.
  • Complete the CNP Referral Form.
  • Submit the completed referral using the instructions provided on the form.
  • CNP staff will review referrals and coordinate next steps in accordance with program requirements.

Helpful Resources