BayCare and Florida Blue have a new agreement! Learn more: KeepBayCare.org
BayCare Behavioral Health, the largest provider of behavioral health services in West Central Florida, held a groundbreaking ceremony on Oct. 20 in celebration of a new Central Receiving Facility (CRF), the first of its kind in Pasco County. The new CRF, expected to open next summer, will provide crisis intervention, assessment and referral services for individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises.
Located at the BayCare Behavioral Health Institute campus on King Helie Boulevard in New Port Richey, the new CRF is an expansion of the current Interventional Stabilization Unit (ISU). Funding for the more than $2 million project was made possible through allocations from the State of Florida as well as a donation from the Morton Plant Mease Hospital Foundation.
“In my days as a professional firefighter, I met so many people who clearly needed help and there was nowhere for them to go,” said State Senator Ed Hooper who championed the expansion project, along with State Representative Brad Yeager. “The need for mental health care counseling and for behavioral health care keeps growing every year. It’s so important for the wellbeing of not just a family or individual but for our entire community,” said Hooper, adding that “BayCare is the greatest total provider of behavioral health care in Florida.”
BayCare President and CEO Stephanie Conners and Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco were among the dignitaries in attendance for the celebration of the much-anticipated facility.
“In Pasco County our population is growing exponentially and with that comes an increase in the resources needed,” Nocco said. “From a law enforcement standpoint, we are very thankful for any expansion of behavioral health services as it’s an area that has been historically under resourced in the Tampa Bay area.”
BayCare Behavioral Health serves nearly 70,000 patients annually across West Central Florida through its extensive network of inpatient and outpatient services for children, adolescents and adults, including five receiving facilities, as well as a new Behavioral Health Urgent Care, which opened in February 2025.
“When we opened the Urgent Care in February, our expectation was that we would serve 400 patients in the first year,” said BayCare Behavioral Health Director of Clinical Operations Tracey Kaly. “In the eight months we’ve been open, we’ve already seen nearly 1,200 patients, further demonstrating the dire need for high-quality behavioral health care in our state, and BayCare is proud to be leading the charge.”
Learn more: BayCare Behavioral Health Services
