Troy, Mich.-based Oakland Community Health Network has diverted individuals in crisis to local emergency departments rather than the county’s resource and crisis center in Pontiac, Mich., amid a provider transition and staffing shortages, Bridge Michigan reported Feb. 17.
The network, which serves about 30,000 county residents and manages a behavioral health provider network, assumed responsibility for the resource and crisis center in late January after Pontiac, Mich.-based Common Ground ceased adult crisis services, citing a contract dispute. Nine individuals receiving care at the center were discharged Jan. 29, when OCHN took over adult crisis services. Last month, it requested law enforcement to bring individuals in crisis to local emergency departments rather than the crisis center.
“Unlike hospital emergency departments, crisis centers are specifically designed and staffed with experienced professionals to aid people in crisis,” Marianne Huff, president and CEO of the Mental Health Association in Michigan, said in a statement. “To expect hospital emergency departments to be ready to assume responsibility for an unknown number of additional individuals that are brought to hospitals by law enforcement is unfair and impractical.”
Crisis stabilization and residential services have been paused during the transition, according to the report. OCHN executives said the agency has brought on about 100 employees, many from Common Ground, but still has about 50 positions to fill before normal operations resume.
Dana Lasenby, CEO and executive director of OCHN, said in the report the agency is awaiting a state license to operate its residential crisis program and expects the center to have “everything up and running” by April 1. Pontiac (Mich.) General Hospital, which declared bankruptcy in 2024 and was removed from Medicaid, is among the emergency departments being used as a resource.
Common Ground said it served 1,300 individuals dropped off by police at the center in 2025, with about 8,000 visiting annually.
“During this transition period, we are and will continue to work closely with our local law enforcement and hospital partners to ensure individuals receive timely and appropriate care. As of today [2/20/26], our hospital partners have not experienced any overcrowding issues, and our customer service, access and crisis lines have addressed two calls related to the resource and crisis center. Our entire organization is working as efficiently and swiftly as possible to secure all licensing and credentialing so we can be fully operational within the next few weeks,” Ms. Lasenby said in a statement shared with Becker’s.
