CESSA Sets State Goals for the Mobile Response Service

 

Even though the Division of Mental Health is modeling the Illinois 9-8-8 system on principles shared by the CESSA advocates, CESSA still articulates the goals for how that system should work. They are:

  1. Divert from hospitalization of incarceration whenever possible.
  2. Provide on-site care as appropriate.
  3. Recommend appropriate referrals for additional support.
  4. Provide transportation to appropriate care settings, as directed by the individual receiving care.
  5. Provide guidance for prioritizing calls for emergency assistance.
  6. Provide appropriate response times based on the type of care required.
  7. Set appropriate training requirements for mobile mental health responders, including training in de-escalation, in available local community services and supports, and in respectful interaction with people experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis.
  8. Set minimum mobile response team staffing levels.
  9. Require training from individuals with lived experience.
  10. Adopt guidelines directing when referral to a restrictive care setting is appropriate.
  11. Specify regional best practices.
  12. Adopting a system to allow voluntary advanced care directives.
  13. Establish training for 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 staff in how to coordinate with 9-8-8.
  14. Establish protocols for emergency responder coordination.
  15. Establish protocols for police request of 9-8-8 resources.