Crisis Centers

Treatment #1: 
Expand the functionality of crisis centers

Sponsored by:

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Project Information

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The IBHC Crisis Center Implementation Team identified four action items and is supported by three action teams.  Action items #3 and #4 are supported by the same team.

• Increase Public Awareness and Understanding of Crisis Center Services. The team supporting this action item worked closely with crisis center managers and Magellan’s Crisis Director and Marketing Director to provide outreach about crisis center services and eligibility for services.  Magellan committed to the effort by providing spotlights in member and provider newsletters, and social media and radio spots specifically dedicated to the crisis centers. The crisis centers themselves continually provide outreach and collaborate with key community partners. The team identified these partners as hospitals, law enforcement, fire departments and EMS, schools, the foster care system, shelters, tribes, and faith-based organizations. The original objectives identified by this team are completed, and they will evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign by measuring the overall increase in referrals by March 2026.  However, the source of referrals cannot be identified specifically due to current data collection practices.    

• Expand Crisis Centers for Youth Across Idaho. This action item was accomplished by determining the need for youth crisis services in the state.  The action team developed this information by interviewing each of the 12 youth assessment centers, as well as the 4 existing youth crisis centers. They also incorporated a needs assessment conducted by Region 2 Regional Behavioral Health Board.  The team analyzed data, reviewed service provision and the referral processes between the assessment and crisis centers. They examined the benefits of co-location, primarily due to the barrier of distance when making referrals. In northern Idaho, the barrier is especially acute where there are no youth crisis centers in Regions 1 and 2.  The objectives for this action item are complete. The team has drafted a summary of the work, which is currently being reviewed by leadership at DHW. 

• Improve Crisis Center Utilization, Operations, and Coordination. This action team worked to establishing regular meetings of the crisis centers around the state to improve coordination and share best practices.  Four of the crisis centers (2,3,4,5) now participate in monthly meetings, with the centers in regions 6 and 7 providing feedback without yet attending the meetings.   The result of this collaboration is the desire to implement a better continuum of care by standardizing the intake and discharge process so that consistent information can be shared between the centers. The team is working on creating a comprehensive template for data collection and sharing, which will be incorporated as part of accomplishing action item #4. They also want to improve collaboration with 988 and the mobile crisis response. 

•  Ensure Sustainable Statewide Funding and Support for Adult Crisis Centers. To justify the crisis center funding, this team will identify key performance indicators to calculate a return on investment.  They expect some of these indicators will show diversions from the hospital emergency room and the jails.  They are currently determining what information is provided to Magellan, and what information they need to receive back. Once they understand what data are available, they can develop reports and look into other ways of determining value.