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

Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday from 1 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Effective January 1, 2025, the service hours will be 24/7.

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.

New mobile crisis response process coming in 2025

Mobile crisis response is about offering face-to-face services for adults and children who may be experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency. Currently, Olmsted County is included in a partnership to provide a regional response for mental health crisis services. Effective January 1, 2025, Olmsted County will have its own mobile crisis response process.

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the mobile crisis transition.

Q: How is mobile crisis response work changing for 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. Beginning in 2025, Olmsted County will have its own mobile crisis response process (versus a 10-county regional response). Olmsted County’s mobile crisis services will be provided by the county’s Crisis Response team.

Q: Why is Olmsted County transitioning 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: When are these changes effective?

A: The changes are effective January 1, 2025.

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 will be providing the 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 will be 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: Is Olmsted County adding staff members to assist with this effort?

A: Yes. There will be five new staff engaged in the mobile crisis response work in Olmsted County – 1 mental health professional, 2 outreach social workers, and 2 stabilization social workers.

Q: What training will the new Olmsted County Crisis Response team receive?

A: All members of the Crisis Response team will undergo extensive training in crisis intervention, de-escalation techniques, cultural competence, and coordination with law enforcement and health care providers. They will also receive specialized training in mental health first aid and trauma-informed care to ensure they are fully prepared to support individuals in crisis.

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

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

Q: Why do we think this new way of offering crisis response will be more beneficial to our community?

A: We believe transitioning mobile crisis response services directly to Olmsted County will provide 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 will Olmsted County’s crisis response team work with other emergency services like law enforcement and EMS?

A: The Olmsted County Crisis Response team will closely collaborate 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.

Q: What happens if someone in crisis needs support before the official transition on January 1, 2025?

A: Until December 31, 2024, Zumbro Valley Mental Health Center will continue to provide mobile crisis services. Individuals experiencing a crisis during this period should continue to follow the existing protocols, including contacting 988 or 911 or our regional 1-844-CRISIS2 mental health line. The transition to Olmsted County’s crisis response team will take place seamlessly, with no gap in service.

Q: How does this change impact the existing partnerships with other counties in southeast Minnesota?

A: While Olmsted County is transitioning to its own Crisis Response team, we will continue to collaborate with neighboring counties on regional mental health initiatives and share best practices. Our goal is to strengthen mental health services across the region, even as we focus on enhancing our local response capabilities.

Q: How will the community be informed about the new mobile crisis services?

A: Prior to the effective date of January 1, 2025, Olmsted County will be launching a public awareness campaign, including informational sessions, community outreach events, and updated materials on our website. We will also work with local media, social service agencies, and healthcare providers to ensure that everyone in the community is informed about the new services and how to access them.

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!