County Behavioral Health Mobile Crisis Teams to expand with state grant funding
May 18, 2022
NEWS RELEASE
May 17, 2022
Vital state grant funds were awarded to improve the Riverside University Health System (RUHS)-Behavioral Health mental health crisis stabilization services. Today, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved receiving $7 million in Crisis Care Mobile Unit grant funds from the California Department of Health Care Services.
Mobile Crisis Management Teams (MCMT) provide mobile crisis response and wrap-around support to serve individuals with ongoing behavioral health care, including mental health and substance use treatment.
The grant funds will allow the expansion of the MCMT teams to partner with the cities of Blythe, Corona, Hemet, Indio, Moreno Valley, Temecula, Banning, Menifee and Riverside. In addition, some cities will receive two teams to assist with coverage to surrounding areas with high volumes of crisis needs. These additional coverage areas are Coachella, Thermal, Mecca, North Shore, Norco, Eastvale, Temescal Canyon, Moreno Valley, Riverside and Hemet.
The MCMT are teams comprised of four multidisciplinary staff members, including clinical therapists, peer support specialists, substance use counselors, as well as a homeless and housing case manager. Each team will have specialty training in crisis intervention and risk assessment, peer support, intensive case management services, including homeless outreach and housing, American Society of Addiction Medicine level of care screening, motivational enhancement and interviewing techniques, counseling, and access to residential treatment for mental health and substance use disorders.
“The goals of these teams are to be responsive, person-centered and use recovery tools to prevent crisis and divert unnecessary psychiatric hospitalization whenever possible,” said Kristin Miller, administrator of RUHS-BH Crisis Support System of Care.
The MCMT teams will respond to crisis calls in the community and provide short-term treatment while assisting consumers in establishing connections to longer-term treatment services. MCMT staff will also participate in outreach activities and events to engage homeless and individuals in seeking assistance.
“To make these goals a reality, we know that it takes a village, and partnering with our cities, law enforcement, community providers, and emergency responders, we can make this vision come to life together,” said Rhyan Miller, deputy director of RUHS-BH Integrated Programs.
