HJNO May/Jun 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS I  MAY / JUN 2022 43 on a review of programs in one state, the findings are replicable in other state sys- tems. But in many ways, this crisis system of care is more about the individual than the complex planning and execution that’s gone into the model. Fundamentally, this system is about empowering the individu- al to seek out help on their own terms; to recognize that there is hope for recovery; to realize that there is a better place they can reach when individualized, coordinated treatment is delivered. If an individual suffering frommental ill- ness isn’t making their own decisions about their care, they can end up in jails, psychiat- ric facilities, or other institutional settings. And even when the care is in a hospital set- ting, an involuntary stay can impact an in- dividual and their families. Quality of life is diminished, there can be a resistance to the care being offered, and there is the potential for unintentional harm caused by the inter- vention process. A voluntary system of care strives to engage individuals and their fam- ilies inmore precise, person-centered treat- ment provided in integrated care settings. Here’s how the system works: LDH is expanding services to Louisiana Medicaid members in the form of “Mobile Crisis Re- sponse, Community Brief Crisis Support, Behavioral Health Crisis Care, and Crisis Stabilization.” Here’s a brief description of these services: • Mobile Crisis Intervention: A service that is available as an initial intervention for individuals in a self-identified crisis in which teams deploy to where the indi- vidual is located in the community. • Community Brief Crisis Support: A face- to-face, ongoing crisis intervention response designed to provide stabili- zation and support in the community subsequent to the initial intervention. • Behavioral Health Crisis Care: A facil- system that touches individuals who may experience a behavioral health crisis. Crisis systems steeped in models of re- covery are important for both the individ- ual and for advocates seeking better mental health treatment for their clients, because the system relies on a treatment trajecto- ry that is more collaborative and therefore more successful in maintaining individuals in treatment and in the community. Access to voluntary services available in the com- munity does not diminish the critical and beneficial role of hospitals as crucial part- ners in the care and treatment of psychiatric illness. Nor does it lessen the essential role of law enforcement and other first respond- ers in meeting the behavioral health needs of individuals in crisis in the absence of al- ternate services. We remain thankful for the hard work healthcare systems and law enforcement partners have done in ensuring the safety of people in crisis and their communities at large. We envision this new system as pro- viding options to these partners that will al- low them to perform their primary work of physical health and safety more effectively and efficiently. Our goal is to ensure every member of the community has the safety net they need if they experience a crisis and has the con- fidence that a loved one experiencing crisis can find focused, effective interventions that are tied to their own choices. We realize that navigating behavioral health systems in Louisiana can seem unnecessarily complex. When we empower individuals in crisis with clear paths to recovery, and allow them to do so voluntarily, we know that many future crises can be averted and a long-term plan for improved mental health can be realized. Individuals in need of immediate crisis counseling can call the Office of Behavioral Health’s 24-hour crisis line at 1-866-310-7977. n ity-based walk-in center providing short-term behavioral health crisis intervention, offering a communi- ty-based, voluntary, home-like alter- native to more restrictive settings. • Crisis Stabilization: Short-term, bed- based crisis treatment and support ser- vice for individuals who have received a lower level of crisis service and are at risk of hospitalization or institutional- ization, including nursing home place- ment. It’s important to know up front that these approaches are designed to build upon the unique and varied strengths, resources, and needs of Louisiana’s local communities. Through the implementation of this mod- ern and innovative system, individuals age 21 and older who are enrolled in Medicaid and are experiencing emotional distress will have access to a continuum of voluntary crisis services that are built on principles of recovery. To build this system, we worked closely with statewide partners to design a mod- el that was specific to the needs of Louisi- anans. Each part of the system focuses on early and acute intervention, as well as crisis recovery, care coordination, and reintegra- tion in their homes and communities after the crisis is addressed. Starting in early April, LDH worked with providers to bring Mobile Crisis Interven- tion, Community Brief Crisis Support, and Behavioral Health Crisis Care Centers to communities showing readiness. The net- work of providers will continue to develop and mature, and services will continue to go live across the state over the course of the year. Ultimately, the system will rely on the collaboration of all partners in the service continuum, including healthcare systems, judicial systems, law enforcement, child protective services, educational systems, homeless coalitions, as well as any other Courtney N. Phillips, PhD Secretary Louisiana Department of Health