Mobile Response Teams (MRT)
Program Description
Mobile Response Teams (MRTs) are meant to provide 24/7 emergency behavioral health care to anyone in the state of Florida. These teams are prepared to meet anyone having a severe emotional or behavioral health crisis in their home, school, or wherever they are. The goals of MRTs are to reduce trauma, prevent unnecessary psychiatric hospitalizations and criminal justice involvement through de-escalation, appropriate crisis intervention, and connecting people to resources in their communities.
Program Eligibility
MRTs provide immediate, on-site behavioral health crisis services at minimum to individuals who:
- Have an emotional disturbance; or
- Are experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis; or
- Are experiencing escalating emotional or behavioral health reactions and symptoms that impact their ability to function typically within their family, living situation, or community environment; or
- Are served by the child welfare system and are experience or at high risk of placement instability
Where to find services
There are over 50 MRTs providing services to individuals in crisis throughout the state. To find a team that serves your county, visit the Specialty Treatment Team Maps.
Treatment Team Staff
MRTs use a team of individuals to provide a range of crisis services to eligible persons and their families that includes:
- A Licensed Mental Health Professional,
- Certified Peer Recovery Specialist,
- Access to an On-Call Psychiatrist or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, and
- Support Staff.
Services Offered
MRTs provide a range of crisis response services to eligible persons and their families, designed to address individual and family needs. This includes in-person and telehealth services to provide on-demand crisis interventions in any setting in which a behavioral health crisis occurs.
A few of the services offered by MRTs are described below:
Screenings and Assessments
Screenings and assessments shall be completed for the presence of an emotional disturbance, serious emotional disturbance, substance use, or mental illness including depression and risk for suicide.
Crisis De-escalation and Stabilization Services
MRTs use evidence-based practices to deescalate and respond to behavioral health challenges. These teams may also offer stabilization services to allow the individual to recover safely from their behavioral health crisis or they facilitate connecting the individual with the appropriate resource to continue their recovery process.
Crisis Counseling
Crisis counseling is a short-term therapy that aims to help an individual deal with a traumatic situation during the immediate aftermath of the event. It is not the same as traditional psychotherapy, as it has a specific goal of dealing with one event that is presently bothering a person, rather than focusing on a person’s entire history.
Development of Safety or Crisis Plans
Safety or Crisis Planning often involves preparing a written list of coping strategies and sources of support to be used by individuals who have made a suicide attempt, have suicidal ideation, have psychiatric disorders that increase suicide risk, or who are otherwise determined to be at risk of suicide.
Psychoeducation
Psychoeducation is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention that provides information and support to patients and their loved ones about their mental health condition and treatment.
Care Coordination
Care coordination works to connect individuals with local services and supports to improve their mental well-being. These temporary services help participants and their families find supports in the community that can meet their needs. Care coordination connects systems including behavioral health, primary care, peer and natural supports, housing, education, vocation, and the justice systems.