Thursday, October 1, 2026
CN Guidance & Counseling Services, a nonprofit behavioral health leader serving Long Island for more than five decades, officially opened its transformative Community Crisis Center (CCC) in Hicksville this December. The 24/7/365 facility provides immediate, walk-in mental health and substance use crisis care for adults, children, and families, offering a comforting, safe alternative to hospital emergency departments (where people can sometimes wait up to 10 hours to receive care).
To celebrate, CN Guidance hosted a ribbon cutting and Community Open House on Friday, December 5, followed by the CCC’s public opening on Saturday, December 6.
“The turnout and enthusiasm from the community were extraordinary,” said Jeffrey Friedman, CEO of CN Guidance. “From our partners in government and healthcare to the families and neighbors who walked through our doors, people understand how deeply needed this level of crisis care is. The Community Crisis Center is already making an impact, and we are honored to serve as a lifeline for individuals seeking immediate, compassionate support.”
Centrally located on Long Island, the CCC introduces an innovative model bridging emergency departments and community-based care. The center provides:
The CCC is co-located alongside CN Guidance’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), that currently provides ongoing treatment to thousands of Long Islanders each year, and represents a vital expansion of the organization’s mission to provide trauma-informed, person-centered, on-demand care across the region.
The December 5th ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together state and local leaders, healthcare leaders, and community partners, emphasizing the CCC’s impact on Long Island’s behavioral health landscape.
Dr. Ann Marie Sullivan, OMH Commissioner, highlighted the center as part of New York State’s broader behavioral health strategy. “The CN Guidance & Counseling’s Community Crisis Center will provide a safe and supportive environment where individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis can receive quality care in a welcoming and healing setting with the goal of continuing their recovery journey,” Dr. Sullivan said. “These Crisis Centers represent yet another way Governor Hochul’s focus on mental health is providing greater access to care for all New Yorkers.”
Through the ribbon cutting, other leaders reinforced the center’s importance:
Hundreds of attendees toured the 6,600-square-foot facility, designed with trauma-informed spaces for children, families, and first responders to promote both safety and dignity. There they met clinical, medical, and peer-with-lived-recovery-experience-support staff and observed the center’s innovative care model, which bridges the gap between hospital emergency departments and ongoing community-based treatment.
Hope Rooms are private spaces furnished with a reclining chair and seating for one companion. Nurses can administer treatment in these rooms, which are designed to help patients decompress. Clients can stay up 23 hrs and 59 minutes before being connected to longer-term services.
The CCC is staffed by dozens of professionals, including nurses, licensed behavioral health specialists, certified peer recovery advocates, psychiatric nurse practitioners, substance use counselors, and behavioral health technicians. The center provides many services including assessments, therapeutic interventions, peer support, ongoing observation, medication-assisted treatment, care coordination, and discharge planning. Food, beverages, showers and a change of clothes are also provided as needed. CN Guidance was awarded millions in state and Nassau County funding to undertake and develop the center. It can serve up to 24 individuals per day and is expected to help roughly 2,000 residents annually.
L to R: Mary Silberstein, CNG Snr Dir of External Affairs; Annisa Moore, Nassau Deputy County Exec; Vicki Walsh, Town of Oyster Bay Councilwoman; Jeffrey Friedman, CNG CEO; Rose Walker, Nassau County Legislator, Arnold Drucker, Nassau COunty Legislator attend 12.5.25 ribbon cutting
Jennifer Vacca
By expanding access to care and amplifying crisis response capabilities, the CCC helps reduce ER visits, supports recovery and strengthens families across the region. Working closely with state and local partners, CN Guidance delivers these life-saving services to all Long Island residents in need, regardless of ability to pay. The center also relieves pressure on hospitals and first responders, creating a more efficient behavioral health system. Most importantly, the CCC provides immediate support close to home, helping people regain stability before challenges escalate.
Residents can access the CCC 24/7/365 at 950 S Oyster Bay Rd., Hicksville, calling 516-390-6544, or learn more at centralnassau.org/programs/community-crisis-center. Anyone experiencing a behavioral health crisis may also contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate support.
Community organizations and stakeholders can help by sharing CCC information, supporting outreach efforts, or contacting CN Guidance at 516-822-6111, ssanon@CentralNassau.org or msilberstein@centralnassau.org. Partnerships make sure compassionate care reaches those who need it most.
