Crisis System Response and Stabilization

Lewis and Clark County Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) is the heart of the Behavioral Health Crisis Response and Stabilization System. The MCRT has been in operation with St. Peter’s Health, in collaboration with Lewis and Clark Public Health, since November 2020.

What is the MCRT and Crisis Now Model?

MCRT is one of the three-pillars in a nationally recognized Crisis Now Model(PDF, 139KB)  that improves the response and services for Behavioral Health Trauma Informed Crisis Care across the nation and in Montana. The three pillars in the Crisis Now Model include: 988-A place to call, MCRT-A person to respond and Crisis Facility-A place to go for behavioral health crisis.

MCRT started in Lewis and Clark County as a co-response model with Law Enforcement, which provided connection to key firsts responders which secured higher likelihood of safety on scene for all. A co-response model means that 911 Dispatch and Law Enforcement identify behavioral health crisis calls and determine if a MCRT licensed mental health professional is needed for Mental Health Professional for de-escalation and evaluation. A minority of the calls are independently responded to by MCRT when they have the knowledge that providers have a safe environment.

The County is working with community partners to re-open the former Journey Home Crisis Facility and strive to have all three of pillars in operation in FY24.

Visit the Behavioral Health Crisis System Dashboard for an interactive online journey through the three pillars. FY23 outcomes and statistics will be available on the dashboard. 

In Fiscal Year 2022, 7.1.21-6.3.22, MCRT outcomes and impact included:

  • 402 individual responses to a behavioral health crisis on location. Locations included Home, Community, Detention Center,  School and Behavioral Health Providers.
  • 51% of residential, or community settings responses were able to be de-escalated and remain in community based on total responses – if Detention Center response removed from total-70% remained in community(283).
  • 29% of total responses at the Detention Center (119)
  • 1% of 402 required Montana State Hospital
  • 33% of 402 identified as Jail Diversion
  • 12% of 402 required SPH Emergency Department

 

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