State investing $51M for mental health crisis response teams for Ohio youth

Previously only available in about half of the state, these response teams and stabilization services are for youth under 21 who are experiencing a mental health crisis, including significant behavioral or emotional distress, according to the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS).

“MRSS (mobile response and stabilization services) is one of the most important tools we have at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively when a child is experiencing a crisis,” said Gov. Mike DeWine.

A Dayton Daily News investigation last year found a growing mental health crisis among youth in the region, stemming from things like trauma, stigma around mental health and the effects of smart phones and social media, with the latter creating constant access to interpersonal conflicts and sometimes negative content.

“When a young person is in crisis, there is no time to waste in getting them the specialized help they need,” said Maureen Corcoran, director of Ohio Medicaid, which worked with OhioMHAS on creating the administrative process that ensures those who use this resource get help, regardless of their ability to pay. Mobile response and stabilization services will become a service available under the OhioRISE program.

“This program and its expansion will put that emergency help within reach for kids, parents, teachers, and communities all across Ohio,” Corcoran said.

What is MRSS?

The mobile response and stabilization services are free help for youth 20 years old and under who are experiencing overwhelming mental, emotional, or behavioral distress or trauma that is impacting their ability to function within their family, school, or community, according to OhioMHAS.

People will be able to access those services through calling the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which would then dispatch a provider to the child or young person in need within the hour.

The mental health provider helps calm the situation by offering immediate de-escalation, ensuring everyone is safe, and creating a plan for comprehensive wraparound care with up to 42 days of ongoing support, OhioMHAS says.

This program also has an Ohio MRSS statewide Call Center that can be reached at 1-888-418-MRSS (6777), but the mobile response and stabilization services are currently only available in certain counties as the expansion process is still unfolding. Locally, those counties include Butler, Champaign, Clinton, Preble and Warren counties.

People who are in a mental health crisis should still call 988 to find resources and help.

The expansion was first announced last August with up to $12 million in funding available for eligible providers to expand the program to all of the 18 established regions, the state said.

“Last year, I announced that we wanted to take this service statewide. Now, that goal is becoming a reality. It’s another example of how we’re protecting the mental health of our young people so they can reach their full potential,” DeWine said.

Regional providers named

On Monday, DeWine announced the state had selected 12 organizations to provide mobile response and stabilization services across the state.

The Dayton, Springfield and Butler County regions were divided into three sections.

Choices Coordinated Care Solutions will be serving Montgomery and Preble counties.

Coleman Health Services will be serving counties north and east of Dayton, including Clark, Darke, Greene, Madison, Miami, Shelby, Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Hardin and Logan counties.

Butler Behavioral Health will be serving communities south of Dayton, including Butler, Warren and Clinton counties.

The base funding amounts for each of those agencies, according to OhioMHAS, includes:

Those figures represent an annualized reimbursement, which will be paid on a prorated monthly basis from the state.

The total statewide investment of $51 million includes funding from the OhioMHAS and Ohio Medicaid. This braided funding model ensures this service can be provided at no cost to families, the state said.

‘This program works’

Mobile response and stabilization services also offer up to six weeks of stabilization care, including in-home services, and connects families with peer support, skill-building opportunities, and prevention resources.

“By offering both initial response and follow-up services, MRSS (mobile response and stabilization services) helps to keep young people at home and prevents unnecessary visits to emergency departments and strain on other local resources,” said OhioMHAS Director LeeAnne Cornyn.

Credit: Takitch, Nathan

Credit: Takitch, Nathan

This program can improve how quickly a child experiencing a mental health crisis gets evaluated by a mental health provider. It can do so by diverting youth in distress from emergency rooms, particularly in areas where families don’t have access to a nearby children’s hospital and would be relying on an adult ER, and assessing the youth in their homes or schools.

“We know this program works,” Cornyn said. “It ensures kids and families receive the type of help they need when they need it, and it’s comforting for parents to know that they don’t have to figure out how to navigate these situations alone. Help is just a phone call away.”

Each regional provider will be responsible for all aspects of mobile response and stabilization services in their area, including initial dispatch, de-escalation, stabilization, data monitoring, and quality care assurance. Providers will also have 60 days to get state certified to provide these services.

Mobile response and stabilization services will be available in all 88 counties in the coming months.