Mobile Crisis Response Team

The Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) was designed to assist police officers on calls related to mental health issues. MCRT is a collaborative effort where registered psychiatric nurses and mental health professionals are dispatched at the request of law enforcement to complete assessments and stabilize situations with on-site crisis counseling, provide one time medication management and referral for services, and assist with psychiatric hospitalizations.

The assistance of the Mobile Crisis Response Team provides the following benefits:

  1. Saves police time, allowing officers to quickly return to the street
  2. People with mental health issues avoid unnecessary incarcerations and hospitalizations
  3. Most importantly, MCRT facilitates appropriate treatment and follow up to address the mental health needs of clients

Program staff assists police officers on calls related to mental health; therefore the police make the final determination when MCRT is dispatched to a scene. MCRT works with all police departments within Polk County. There is no charge for the assistance of the Mobile Crisis Response Team.

There are no direct referrals to MCRT because staff is dispatched through the individual police departments at each of the three Polk County dispatch centers. MCRT responds when requested by the police and responds to all calls with the assistance of police.