Regional partnership receives $3 million grant to better serve the crisis care needs of people across the KCMO metro area

The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has selected the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) to administer a $3 million grant to enhance existing mobile crisis response to people experiencing a mental health crisis. 

One of only 12 grants awarded nationally, the funds will support MARC’s partnership with five community care behavioral health organizations to improve emergency response in Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri.

Partnering organizations, which include ReDiscover, Swope Health, University Health Behavioral Health, Burrell Behavioral Health and Tri-County Mental Health Services, will work to implement a standardized crisis response system and achieve equity in emergency service delivery, so that everyone in the coverage area will receive the same quality of services, regardless of demographics or location.

The grant announcement comes as members of the Eastern Jackson County (EJC), Missouri, Co-Responder Program recently gathered to learn about best practices integrating the new 988 lifeline into the current emergency response system.  

Offered by the Council for State Governments Justice Center, the training is part of a $750,000 grant MARC administers through the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program.

The EJC Co-Responder Program supports mental health clinicians who are embedded within police departments to assist on calls for service by providing behavioral health assessments and referrals for services.