MAPS 4 Mental Health Crisis Center name to honor Robert Ravitz

Published on November 18, 2025

Oklahoma City Council recently voted to name the MAPS 4 Mental Health Crisis Center in honor of the late Robert “Bob” Ravitz, former Oklahoma County Chief Public Defender. The new facility will be called the Robert Ravitz Crisis Center, recognizing Ravitz’s three decades of service and his lifelong advocacy for people facing mental health and legal challenges.

MAPS 4 includes $12.27 million to build the new crisis center and expand access to critical mental health and substance use intervention resources for Oklahoma City residents. The Arnall Family Foundation also contributed $2.35 million to the project.

“The MAPS 4 investment in a crisis center is the result of decades of hard work by advocates like Ravitz who recognized that our community needs expanded access to mental health resources,” MAPS Program Manager David Todd said. “This center represents the kind of lasting investment he championed—one that builds a better city and community for all.”

The center will include spaces for emergency assessments, stabilization and connections to ongoing support for people experiencing a mental health crisis. It will be operated by the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS).

“Caring for those affected by mental illness and substance use takes a united community effort,” said ODMHSAS Interim Commissioner Greg Slavonic. “Through our partnership with the City of Oklahoma City on the new MAPS 4 Crisis Center, we honor Mr. Ravitz’s legacy and strengthen the support network for Oklahomans who need it most.”

The City has identified a site at 1200 NE 13th St., on the east side of the OU Health Sciences Center campus. A land purchase agreement is underway. The Robert Ravitz Crisis Center will break ground in spring 2026.

Robert “Bob” Ravitz’s Legacy
Robert Ravitz became Oklahoma County’s chief public defender in 1987, a role he held for more than three decades. He was appointed as a board member for the Office of Juvenile Affairs in 1995 and 1999.

Ravitz also served as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University School of Law, where he taught trial practice, capital litigation and criminal procedure.

Ravitz’s victory in the U.S. Supreme Court case Cooper v. Oklahoma in 1995 strengthened due process protections for defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial. He received the Oklahoma Defense Lawyers Association’s Clarence Darrow Award for his work on the landmark case.

Ravitz died on January 23, 2024. His legacy continues to shape Oklahoma City’s legal and mental health systems.

About MAPS 4
MAPS 4 is a debt-free public improvement program funded by a temporary penny sales tax that will raise a projected $1.07 billion over eight years. Oklahoma City voters approved the sales tax to fund MAPS 4 in a special election on Dec. 10, 2019, moving forward with a unique and ambitious plan to transform our community. The temporary penny sales tax funding MAPS 4 began April 1, 2020, and ends in 2028. More than 70 percent of MAPS 4 funding is dedicated to neighborhood and human needs. The rest is for quality of life and job-creating initiatives. The MAPS 4 Citizens Advisory Board and its six subcommittees will guide MAPS 4 planning and implementation, making recommendations to the City Council. The Council has final authority on MAPS 4. The MAPS Investment and Operating Trust developed a strategic investment plan to support long-term sustainable funding for MAPS 4 projects' operational expenses and maintenance. Visit okc.gov/maps4 for more.

About ODMHSAS
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services leads the state’s efforts to promote mental wellness, prevent substance misuse, and provide treatment and recovery support for Oklahomans of all ages. The agency oversees a statewide network of community mental health centers, crisis response programs, substance use treatment providers and prevention initiatives. Each year, ODMHSAS serves hundreds of thousands of individuals and families, helping them achieve stability, recovery and hope. Through partnerships with local communities, law enforcement, and health systems, ODMHSAS works to build a safer, healthier Oklahoma. Learn more at www.odmhsas.org.