Crisis Response Team

Mental health and substance use crisis response for Olmsted County

Are you having a mental health or substance use crisis or emergency?

Call or text 988 to receive help.
Call 1-844-CRISIS2 (1-844-272-7472).
911 is always an option in an emergency.

What is the Crisis Response team?

The Crisis Response team is a collaborative effort within Olmsted County’s Health, Housing, and Human Services division, in partnership with the Rochester Police Department and Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office. Crisis Response workers provide services that address public health concerns as it relates to mental health, poverty, and substance use freeing up room for law enforcement to focus on law enforcement matters.

Crisis Response workers have experience with marginalized communities and are versed with problem-solving and conflict resolution. They focus on providing residents with resources to address their needs, making appropriate referrals, and following up with individuals and their providers to ensure their needs were met and properly addressed.

The Crisis Response team members specifically focused on substance use are also known as the Drug and Alcohol Response Team or DART.

Service hours of the Crisis Response team

Service hours are 24/7 (effective January 1, 2025).

When to call the Crisis Response team

Severe mental illness episode.
Youth experiencing a crisis.
Substance use concerns.
Homelessness/vagrancy.
Impaired cognitive functioning.
Barriers to accessing resources.

People eligible for services from the Crisis Response team

Crisis services provided for youth and adults.
The are no costs associated with receiving services.
Services are provided exclusively within Olmsted County.
All services offered are voluntary.

Mobile crisis response process

Q: How does the mobile crisis response process work in Olmsted County?

A: Previously, Olmsted County was included in a partnership with several counties in southeast Minnesota to provide a regional response for mental health crisis services. Effective January 1, 2025, Olmsted County has its own mobile crisis response process (versus a 10-county regional response). Olmsted County’s mobile crisis services are provided by the county’s Crisis Response team.

Q: Why did Olmsted County transition to its own mobile crisis response team instead of continuing with the regional partnership?

A: The transition to an Olmsted County-specific mobile crisis response team allows for a more tailored approach to meeting the needs of our local community. By focusing resources and coordination within Olmsted County, we can ensure faster response times, improved service integration, and better alignment with our community’s specific needs and values.

Q: What is meant by “mobile crisis response?” How do you describe this to individuals not familiar with this topic? And what types of crises do the mobile crisis team respond to?

A: Mobile crisis response is about offering face-to-face services for adults and children who may be experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency.

The Olmsted County Crisis Response team is a local team that responds to a wide range of mental health crises, including but not limited to severe anxiety, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, and significant emotional distress. The team is equipped to handle crises involving both adults and children and will work to stabilize the situation and connect individuals with ongoing support services.

Mobile crisis response involves the following steps:

Triage/screening.
Assessment.
De-escalation/resolution.
Peer support.
Coordination with medical and behavioral health services.
Crisis planning and follow up.

Q: Who/what team provides mobile crisis response services to Olmsted County?

A: Outlined below are the core components of Olmsted County’s crisis response continuum and the entities/organizations involved in providing these services:

Crisis call center and local dispatch: People experiencing a crisis can call both 988 and 911. 988 calls will be sent to First Call for Help out of Itasca County. These calls will be triaged and sent to Olmsted County when appropriate. Local calls to 911 involving a mental health crisis are sent to Olmsted County’s Crisis Response team.
Olmsted County Crisis Response: When a call is routed to Olmsted County, a Crisis Response worker will be sent out to meet with the client. This may involve being accompanied by a member of local law enforcement depending on the nature of the crisis and other safety variables.
Follow-up work: This is about returning the client to pre-crisis functioning or better. This will involve the following services:
- Connections and Referral Unit – Zumbro Valley Health Center
- Southeast Regional Crisis Center (SERCC) – Nexus Family Healing
- Adult stabilization & children/youth stabilization

Q: Are Olmsted County’s crisis response services available 24/7?

A: Yes. Coverage is provided 24/7. There will always be staff during daytime hours, including holidays. For overnights, an on-call response is used, where crisis response staff rotate overnight shifts.

Q: Why is this new way of offering crisis response more beneficial to our community?

A: We believe transitioning mobile crisis response services directly to Olmsted County provides several key benefits to our community:

Enhanced coordination and integration: By bringing the crisis response directly to Olmsted County, we can ensure better coordination with other county services, such as mental health, housing, and social services. This integrated approach allows for a more seamless response to crises, ensuring individuals receive comprehensive support tailored to their specific needs.
Local oversight and accountability: Managing the crisis response team directly enables us to maintain closer oversight of service delivery, quality, and outcomes. This direct accountability will help us to be more responsive to community needs, ensuring services are delivered efficiently and effectively.
Faster response times: With the Crisis Response team being a part of Olmsted County, we anticipate faster response times during crises. The team's familiarity with local resources, geography, and community dynamics will enable them to act quickly and decisively, which is crucial during mental health crises.
Cultural competence and community alignment: Olmsted County’s deep understanding of our community’s unique cultural and demographic needs will allow us to tailor the mobile crisis response to be more culturally competent and aligned with local values. This should improve community trust and engagement with the service.
Sustainability and long-term planning: By taking on this responsibility, Olmsted County can develop long-term strategies to enhance and expand crisis response services, ensuring they remain sustainable and responsive as community needs evolve.

We are confident these changes will lead to better outcomes for those experiencing mental health crises and a stronger, more resilient support system for our entire community.

Q: How does Olmsted County’s crisis response team work with other emergency services like law enforcement and EMS?

A: The Olmsted County Crisis Response team closely collaborates with law enforcement and EMS when needed, ensuring a coordinated response that prioritizes safety and appropriate care. In cases where there are safety concerns, law enforcement may accompany the crisis team to ensure that both the individual in crisis and the responders are protected.

Q: If someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, what steps should they take?

A: Individuals can call or text 988 to receive help during a mental health crisis, and 911 is always an option in an emergency as well. If you are calling from Olmsted County, you will be put in touch with our local crisis response team who can assist you. Other resources to consult include the mental health information on our Olmsted County website, the CredibleMind platform that offers numerous mental health resources, and you can also contact the Southeast Regional Crisis Center.

Drug & Alcohol Response Team (DART)

The Drug & Alcohol Response Team (DART) uses proven methods to help individuals living with drug and/or alcohol addiction. They help people reduce barriers and find ongoing support to lower future risks.

The team was established with a focus on fairness, aiming to decrease obstacles for marginalized groups that might face extra challenges in accessing services.

Be in the Know

Olmsted County's "Be in the Know" campaign is aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of substance use and addiction in our community. This campaign provides valuable resources and information to help residents understand and address substance use.

Visit BeInTheKnowOlmsted.com to access downloadable toolkits and educational materials and learn how you can get involved.

Watch the video below to learn more about the Drug & Alcohol Response Team!