Typically, when someone calls 9-1-1, they're asked if they need police, fire or EMS. But in Austin, Texas, an exciting program is transforming 9-1-1 simply by adding a fourth option: "Mental Health".
In this episode, Marisa Malik and Kedra Priest of Integral Care join the podcast to talk about the Expanded Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (EMCOT). EMCOT works with Austin first responders to divert jail bookings and emergency department (ED) admissions by providing real-time response for mental health crisis emergency calls. EMCOT practitioners provide short-term community-based interventions to stabilize a person in a psychiatric crisis and connect them with Integral Care services or other appropriate care.
To learn more about Integral Care Austin visit their website.
To get in touch with the Integral Care team call 512-472-HELP (4357).
To get in touch with Maris or Kedra directly, email them at:
Marisa.Malik@integralcare.org | kedra.priest@integralcare.org
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EPISODE CHAPTERS:
How did the Expanded Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (EMCOT) get started? (01:15)
What is the EMCOT program and how does it work? (04:25)
Call screening (06:20)
Call volume (09:30)
Relationship with local EMS and Police (12:05)
Coverage area of Austin EMCOT (14:35)
Recruitment (16:10)
The actual on-scene duties and services being offered (17:55)
Building partnerships with EMS and Police (20:50)
Scope of EMCOT and growth (27:35)
Community partnership building (31:15)
Impact metrics (33:55)
Cost of their services (38:55)
Integration with and impact of 988 (42:30)
Scaling the EMCOT program (44:50)
Lessons learned (46:15)
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HOST
Jason Friesen is the Founder and Executive Director of Trek Medics International, a 501c3-registered nongovernmental organization (NGO) dedicated to improving access to emergency response networks in communities across the globe through innovative mobile phone technologies.
Learn more about Trek Medics International by visiting their website, and for more info on the Beacon Crisis Response Platform visit here.
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Theme song: "Happy Feliz" by ¡Big Grande! (used with permission).
