September 2026 marks one year since the DuPage County Crisis Recovery Center (CRC) opened its doors, offering residents experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis a safe, welcoming place. In just one year, the CRC has provided compassionate, immediate care to our community, completing more than 2,200 onsite crisis assessments, including 386 youth assessments. Today, it is established as a trusted, community centered resource for DuPage County.
The anniversary arrives during Suicide Prevention Month and just before 9 8 8 Day, highlighting the life saving importance of an immediate, easy to access behavioral health crisis system: someone to contact, someone to respond, and a safe place for help.
With 9-8-8, the DuPage Crisis Hotline (630-627-1700), mobile crisis response teams, and the CRC, DuPage County now has a coordinated system that ensures residents can access support quickly, receive the right level of response, and get help in a safe setting.
The CRC is a powerful example of how coordinated community care can change lives.
The CRC’s impact is clear in the voices of the people it has helped:
- A parent shared that the CRC “gave them space to breathe and get help for their child.”
- Another resident said a simple follow up call “made them feel human again.”
- One individual offered the most powerful words of all: “You guys saved my life.”
“These stories demonstrate the results we envisioned. We brought together community leaders and families who supported our goal to create one central place that truly delivers person-centered care at a critical moment,” said DuPage County Chair, Deb Conroy. “Today, in DuPage County, it’s okay to not be okay. Now, the Crisis Recovery Center is the place where anyone can go to receive professional, compassionate care, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. We are setting the standard for the state and nation and are grateful to everyone who helped make this possible. Together we are saving lives.”
A Year of Service:
- The CRC supports residents of all ages, from youth to older adults.
- The majority walked in independently or with a family member, an encouraging sign that more people feel safe seeking help early.
- Community providers and schools make up the next largest group of referrals.
- 97% of visitors were safely supported in the community, avoiding unnecessary hospitalizations.
“The CRC has become a place where people feel safe walking in and asking for help,” said Adam Forker, Executive Director, DuPage County Health Department. “Our team listens, supports, and helps people find a path forward. In just one year, the CRC is already making a meaningful difference for our community.”
As the CRC celebrates its first year, the message is simple. Reaching out for help can save lives. DuPage County encourages anyone who is struggling to seek support by walking into the Crisis Recovery Center at 115 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL or by calling 9 8 8 or the DuPage Crisis Hotline (630) 627-1700. Help is available 24/7 and no one has to face a crisis alone.
