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Headlines - and Reports!

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HEADLINES

Tyesha Davis-Rhodes, Director of the New Orleans Mobile Crisis Intervention Unit.

NEW ORLEANS - MCIU Director Leads Coordinated Effort to Rescue Woman in Crisis, June 4, 2024

June 1, 2024, marks the first anniversary of the MCIU, which intercepted an impressive 3000 calls in their first year. “We have made a significant impact, but we haven’t even scratched the surface. We have so much more work ahead of us to address the community’s mental health needs,” Tyesha said. Her work on May 16 stands as a shining example of how the New Orleans emergency response system works tirelessly to serve and protect its community, demonstrating the strength and necessity of collaborative efforts in crisis intervention.

HUDSON VALLEY - New law being introduced to aid mental health issues, hudsonvalley.news12.com June 5, 2024

A new tool to help with mental health emergencies, the Green Flashing Light Law, will be officially introduced on Thursday.

MORE - New State Law Allows Mobile Crisis Response Teams to Use Flashing Green Emergency Lights, December 2023

Senate Bill S5397 - Relates to the display of green lights on the vehicles of members of mobile crisis teams.

SIOUX CITY - ‘Police are not the answer to the crisis’ - SCPD working alongside experts when it comes to crises on the streets, KTIV.com, May 9, 2024

The Siouxland Mental Health Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (MCAT) provides on-site, in-person intervention for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. MCAT is a 24/7 program for youth and adults that dispatches mental health professionals to homes, schools, ERs, or other public places where a mental health crisis is occurring. Response time is within 60 minutes of dispatch.

“They might be going through a mental health crisis, and it might not be an immediate response where they need to go to the hospital, but just to be able to help them and alleviate like, whether it’s anxiety or depression is what they what they need,” said Team Lead Gabriel Razcon Durazo.

HHS Adds Ten New States to the CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program

On June 4, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration welcomed 10 new states into the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Medicaid Demonstration Program. These states successfully developed the necessary state-level infrastructure and worked with providers in their states to develop programs that meet CCBHC standards:

• Alabama

• Illinois

• Indiana

• Iowa

• Kansas

• Maine

• New Hampshire

• New Mexico

• Rhode Island

• Vermont

CCBHCs must ensure access to a comprehensive range of services, providing care coordination when needed and incorporating evidence-based practices and other supports based on a community needs assessment. CCHBCs offer a range of mental illness and addiction services to anyone seeking care regardless of condition, age, ability to pay, or housing status.