Current Campaign

Family Walk-in Center

Ongoing Campaign

The Family Walk-In Center provides immediate crisis care and 6–8 weeks of follow-up support for children and families in East Tennessee. After federal funding ended early, this essential program now faces a critical gap. Help us raise $2.5 million to sustain life-changing services and ensure youth in crisis have a safe, compassionate place to turn.

Family Walk-in Center

Sustaining Immediate Crisis Care for Children and Families

The McNabb Center’s Family Walk-In & Comprehensive Treatment Center opened in November 2021 to provide immediate crisis services for children and youth in East Tennessee. It is one of the only programs in the state where families can access acute outpatient assessment, stabilization, and extended follow-up care without delay.

The program is designed to de-escalate crises and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and out-of-home placements. By offering timely intervention and multiple levels of care within the community, children can remain in their natural environments while receiving the support they need.

A Critical Funding Gap

The Family Walk-In Center was funded solely through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. McNabb Center anticipated funding through September 2025; however, funding ended early in March 2025 and has not been renewed.

Without this program, emergency rooms become one of the only options for families when a child is in crisis.

The Helen Ross McNabb Foundation is now leading a bridge funding campaign to sustain these essential services. The goal is to raise $2.5 million to cover the funding gap through June 2028. The annual operating budget for the Family Walk-In Center is $1.3 million.

During this period, McNabb Center will pursue long-term funding solutions, including:

  • Public and private recurring funding

  • TennCare and commercial insurance reimbursement

  • Grant opportunities through the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

  • Continued advocacy for the restoration of SAMHSA funding

High-Impact Support

The most utilized service at the Family Walk-In Center is intensive case management, with 77% of clients engaged at this level of care.

Intensive case management provides:

  • Higher frequency of contact and support

  • Extended engagement to address imminent risk factors

  • Specialized crisis-response training for case managers

  • 24/7 on-call support for families

This higher level of care helps stabilize youth, strengthen families and reduce the likelihood of hospitalization or residential placement.

Your Support Makes the Difference

Your gift ensures that children in crisis have immediate access to compassionate, life-changing care. Every contribution helps sustain a safe, local option for families during their most vulnerable moments.