Mobile Crisis Team

What is a Mobile Crisis Team?

A Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) is a group of certified and credentialed professionals who are specially trained to deliver care to people in crisis wherever they are during an active crisis. The Fairbanks Crisis Now MCT will always respond with a licensed behavioral health clinician and a certified peer support specialist.

How does the Mobile Crisis Team Work?

The MCT is dispatched by the Crisis Now Call Center primarily in response to a 988 or 911 call, but the MCT can also be requested first responders.  The team will then go to the person in crisis. When appropriate the MCT will accompany other first responders, but will also have the capability to respond independently depending upon the situation. On the scene, the MCT will be able to assess the person in crisis and the situation. The MCT will then help the person resolve the crisis on location and/or connect the person to other resources. The MCT will also follow up with the person within 48 hours of the crisis.

Who is providing MCT services?

Alaska Behavioral Health is staffing the MCT's licensed clinicians and The Bridge is staffing the MCT's certified peer support specialists.

What are the MCT response levels?

Before the MCT is dispatched each call is carefully screened to determine the appropriate level of response needed. Below is a brief summary of the five response levels:

• Level 1 Response: Law Enforcement response required with MCT accompanying or staging. This level indicates situations that are too dangerous to deploy without the scene first being secured by law enforcement. It is also key in these situations to have a response within the shortest amount of time possible.  The caller is in imminent danger to self-and/or others.

• Level 2 Response:  MCT Lead with law enforcement staging near the scene. This level indicates situations where MCT staff enter the environment first, but law enforcement is immediately available if needed.

• Level 3 Response:  MCT Lifeline – Law Enforcement on standby via phone call. A call will be stacked for law enforcement with all information and waiting for MCT to advise if law enforcement is needed. Law enforcement will not respond until requested by MCT. 

• Level 4 Response: MCT without law enforcement on standby. Law enforcement will still be aware of the MCT call.

• Level 5 Response: MCT clinicians may respond to "safe sites" (school, hospital, clinic, etc.) without a peer support specialist. Residences are not considered "safe sites".