A behavioral health crisis can be traumatic for individuals, families, and our communities. Although we cannot know when a crisis may occur, we can create a system that is agile and responsive when the need arises.  Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) is a rapid response, behavioral health led, crisis intervention model customized to meet the developmental needs of children, youth, young adults, and their families (youth and families). The inclusion of MRSS within a comprehensive system of care (SOC) and crisis continuum is a core component of a good and modern children’s behavioral health system.  

• MRSS provides immediate response and early intervention to de-escalate crises that are
  defined by the family
• MRSS recognizes that child behavioral health crises affect caregivers as much as they do
  children
• MRSS prevents future crises or out-of-home placement through stabilization services, follow-up and by navigating access to community supports across the system of care

MRSS: Help and Where You Need it.

Mobile Response Stabilization Services (MRSS) is a team of licensed clinicians and support staff providing emotional triage to stabilize crises where and when the situations occur in as little as 30 minutes. MRSS is an alternative to in-patient care, designed for youth and young adults under the age of 18 who are experiencing severe behavioral or emotional distress, giving them immediate care and on-going support.

What Defines a Crisis?

In most situations, the crisis is defined by families or staff and can include:

–          Escalating emotional or behavioral issues

–          Mental health issues

–          Addiction and substance abuse

–          Physical and emotional trauma

–          School truancy

–          Running away from home

–          Parent/child or caregiver/child conflicts

–          Grief

–          Suicidal ideation

Continued Support

MRSS brings the care where you need it the most. Clinical and peer recovery support staff help de-escalate situations and provide support to staff and to families to prevent future crisis events. While MRSS teams respond immediately to a crisis, they also ensure the client – once stepping down from MRSS – is linked to other services that may be appropriate is successful through follow up care over the next 8 weeks.

For youth and families, MRSS provides the following:

–          Safety assessment and planning

–          De-escalation

–          Support for parents from another peer with lived experience

–          Recommendations for building coping skills and strategies

–          Connection to resources