Willow Rock Center offers a safe and supportive environment for Alameda County adolescents in crisis. Seneca Center’s crisis response program at Willow Rock is open all hours of the night and day, seven days a week, helping young people with issues that can be resolved in 23 hours or less. Highly-skilled clinicians and counselors quickly assess the needs of each adolescent and provide interventions specially designed to return them safely to their homes, schools and neighborhoods. Youth who are at imminent risk of harm to self or others will be considered for admission to the adjoining acute inpatient program.

The 23-Hour Crisis Response Center is decorated and furnished to be comfortable and inviting for adolescents in serious distress. Each “day” room is painted in cool, calming colors and offers a separate space where a young person can “chill out,” while still being observed by staff. The teen can settle into a comfy couch, listen to music, watch a DVD, play a video game, or read a magazine in between interactions with counseling staff. Family members or other caregivers can visit with the young person in the center’s lobby.

Upon arrival at the crisis response center, each youth is offered appealing, nourishing food and drink and allowed to shower and put on a fresh change of clothes. Staff provide the young person with toiletries, a towel and washcloth, and a “goodie bag.” Teens arriving at night are given pajamas to wear (and keep after they leave the program). All interventions by program staff are designed to calm and stabilize the young person as quickly as possible so he/she can be returned safely to his/her family or community-based placement. Discharge/aftercare planning—facilitated by the clinician—may include referral to follow-up outpatient services and/or linkages with other providers and supportive resources in the community.

Referrals are accepted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Most young people arrive by ambulance, however, clients are welcome to walk into the center for assessment of their need for support. In addition, referrals are accepted by telephone. To reach the crisis response program, call 510-483-3030.