Remote Growth Director, Healthcare Partnerships

The journey of Connections Health Solutions began not in a boardroom, but from the front lines of emergency medicine, born from a need to fundamentally change how individuals in behavioral health crisis are treated. The story starts with two emergency room psychiatrists, Dr. Chris Carson and Dr. Robert Williamson, who witnessed firsthand the revolving door of patients cycling through emergency departments and the justice system. These environments, ill-equipped to handle the nuances of a mental health crisis, often led to stigmatizing and ineffective outcomes. Determined to create a better alternative, they pioneered a new model of care in Texas in 1993, one that prioritized immediate access, stabilization, and a compassionate, recovery-oriented approach. This innovative crisis observation model was the seed from which Connections Health Solutions would grow.

In 2009, Drs. Carson and Williamson brought their vision to Arizona, officially founding Connections Health Solutions. They established two of the nation's largest and most studied crisis response centers in Phoenix and Tucson, putting their philosophy into practice on a grand scale. Their model, often referred to as the 'Crisis Now' model, is built on a 'no wrong door' policy, ensuring that anyone in need of care is welcomed, regardless of their insurance status or the complexity of their condition. Instead of long waits in chaotic emergency rooms, patients receive immediate attention from a multidisciplinary team of behavioral health experts. The core of their approach is a 23-hour observation unit, a therapeutic environment designed for rapid assessment, treatment, and stabilization. This method has proven remarkably effective, with a majority of individuals stabilized and able to return to their communities within a day, connected to long-term support. This success has not gone unnoticed; the model has been recognized as a national best practice by organizations like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and the company continues to expand its transformative services to new communities across the United States.