Designing an Improved County Behavioral Health Crisis Response & Continuum of Care System

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

Abstract (200 words)Lewis and Clark County identified a need for the development of crisis diversion and de-escalation to address and improve the behavioral health crisis treatment and service needs in the Helena area. The Behavioral Health (BH) Crisis Response Systems are found within three identified community services: Hospital Emergency Department, Detention Center and the behavioral health focused Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT). The measurable goals are to reduce demand on emergency department admissions, reduce and de-escalate behavioral health related criminal justice encounters and recidivism and increase behavioral health crisis response on scene with MCRT for treatment and de-escalation for improved behavioral health and public safety.The design and development of a BH Systems Improvement Leadership Team, and a new BH Program Specialist, provided the core structure and resources needed to identify the current Behavioral Health Systems and framework for identifying needs and gaps for improved Systems. This core team encompassed the County, Criminal Justice, Hospital and Behavioral Health community, and together we collaborate, identify, design and improve the BH Crisis Response and Continuum of Care Systems. The process included the mapping of both current and future Behavioral Health Continuum of Care and Crisis Pathways in both a visual mapping and data framework.