Mobile mental health outreach teams will hit the road to help the vulnerable

Coming soon to your community: a new “boots on the ground” approach to behavioral health care that will help people in crisis before they end up in an emergency room, or before they are misunderstood, arrested and become caught in the criminal justice system.

Newport Mental Health is excited to play a key role in this pilot Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) model, which is new to Rhode Island but is modeled after a program called Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets (CAHOOTS) developed in Eugene, Oregon, and replicated as a best practice in other parts of the country.

We are in the process of carefully hiring staff for the two mobile crisis units, one team in Newport County and one team for Bristol County/East Providence. Funding for this pilot program comes through a state BHDDH grant.

A grass roots statewide advocacy group Heal RI, which is focused on decriminalizing people with behavioral health disorders, was the impetus for getting this pilot program funded. This program is a collaborative effort of community stakeholders, parents, providers and public safety partners. This grant is funded through Horizon Healthcare Partners which operates the statewide crisis bed program BHLink and the state’s new 988 emergency call system. Newport Mental Health has been awarded the subcontract to operate two mobile response teams we expect to be fully operational in early 2023.

Where did the idea come from? Prompted by the 2020 George Floyd case which raised national awareness of outcomes when mental health intersects with law enforcement, a subcommittee of the RI Trial Lawyers Association began to look at justice, equity and the CAHOOTS model.

The CAHOOTS program founded in 1989 answers nonviolent hotline calls that are related to mental health problems such as addiction, disorientation, homelessness. Highly trained staff members work in pairs, one with medical training and the other with experience in street outreach and/or mental health. They work to get those in crisis the help they need and divert them from hospitals, or from being arrested. The CAHOOTS program has a strong track record of successfully connecting people to the care they need. In fact, after thousands of encounters police backup was needed only handful of times per year where it has been implemented.

Portsmouth attorney Laura Harrington worked on the trial lawyers’ subcommittee and has been behind HEAL RI, to make a CAHOOTS-like the program a reality here in Rhode Island. HEAL RI consists of concerned community members, clinical professionals, such as NMH, those with lived experience, reps from state agencies and health care, and others interested from the

community. HEAL RI members are working out the group’s role as an oversight committee, once we are fully up and running.

There are dual overarching goals, which will get us ahead of problems before they become out of control:

· To divert people with mental health and substance use disorders from being criminalized in the justice system. It is an opportunity for people who are much better off being treated, engaged and given access to care.

· To divert people to appropriate treatment services and limit the need for emergency room treatment and unnecessary inpatient admissions.

We also want to educate the public that if someone is having a mental health or substance abuse crisis at home or out in the community and they are not at imminent risk of seriously hurting themselves or others, the the preferred route is to call dedicated NMH/MCOT dedicated dispatch hotline TBD or just call 988 rather than 911.

Two mobile vans will be purchased. Each van (one for Newport County and one for Bristol County/East Providence) will be staffed from 10 am to 11 pm with a medically trained individual such as a nurse or EMT, and the mental health engagement counselor. In addition to constantly engaging with people who may need behavioral health support before they are in crisis, they will respond to crisis calls, and coordinate and strengthen our already strong relationships with with local police departments and other agencies. They will visit recovery centers and get to know where potential clients may be in the community. Their job is to be out engaging people. Their goal will be to educate people on where and how to get help and when the person voluntary consents to accepting help, transport them to services and supports right then and there.

These outreach staff will be extensively trained by individuals with this the best practice model we are replicating here in Rhode Island.

Newport Mental Health is advertising these positions on their website and have already received dozens of applications. NMH is looking for a set of unique competencies for this program to be successful. The Medical Specialist (EMT/RN) positions require an EMT or RN license. The Behavioral Health Specialist positions do not require a specific credential, degree or license. Candidates need to have experience in behavioral health services including good assessment skills and should reflect the diverse communities we serve. Most importantly applicants need to have experience with and a sensitivity to people with mental health or substance abuse issues. It may be people with their own lived experiences, or that of a family member of loved one, or just maybe someone who shares the values and principles of “For whatever it takes, however long it takes, I’m going to walk beside you and get you help.”

At the same time, we will be expanding the role of our in-house emergency crisis team staffed by licensed clinicians, which is based at our Access Center at 127 Johnnycake Hill Road. This program serves children as well as adults and hopes to expand staff and hours with additional funding. They will work as the first line of backup when the new Mobile Crisis Outreach teams need assistance.

This week Newport Mental Health welcomed Brett Rayford, PsyD, a highly regarded clinical psychologist from Connecticut who becomes our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Program Development Consultant. He will assist in getting this new MCOT program rolling. Our Executive Vice President of Operations Dayna Gladstein will be responsible for the program and its staff, including a program director to be hired.

If you or anyone else you know is interested in one of our new mobile crisis unit positions, contact the Newport Mental Health Human Resource Department at https://www.newportmentalhealth.org/careers/. Click on APPLY or VIEW OPEN POSITIONS to see all current available positions, including those for the MCOT program.

Jamie Lehane is president and CEO of Newport Mental Health in Middletown. Peace of Mind, which is co-written with Mary Alexandre, runs in The Daily News and online at newportri.com.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport Mental Health mobile outreach teams hit the road