St. Clair County mental-health agency outlines expanded crisis response and integrated services

Deb Johnson, director of St. Clair County Community Mental Health, gave commissioners an overview of the agency's services, history and recent changes, including its status as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) and a 24/7 mobile crisis unit that responds countywide.

The presentation, which included a short video, said CMH operates five locations, offers integrated behavioral and physical health care in partnership with local clinics and pharmacies, and provides services to adults, children, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those with substance-use disorders. Johnson said the agency served about 7,082 people in the last fiscal year, an increase of about 11% from the year before, and that the organization expects to serve another 500–600 people this year if projections hold.

Johnson told the commissioners that as a CCBHC the agency expanded who it can serve, including people with private insurance and people seeking stand‑alone substance‑use disorder treatment. She also said CCBHC status did not expand coverage for intellectual or developmental disability services, which remain under other state rules and funding streams. “As a CCBHC… our comprehensive services ensure people have access to the care they need, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay,” Johnson said.

The presentation highlighted the county’s mobile crisis unit (MCU), available 24 hours a day at (810) 966‑2575, and an access center phone line (888) 225‑4447. Johnson said the MCU conducts telephone screenings and in‑person face‑to‑face evaluations when indicated and that the team sometimes responds alongside local law enforcement. She cited past collaboration in which local sheriff’s office leadership advocated for CCBHC funding in Washington, D.C.

Johnson outlined CMH’s four organizational priorities: organizational efficiency, education (community outreach), workforce development and program excellence. She said the agency employs about 474 people across direct‑operated locations and uses roughly 205 contract providers; the broader contracted provider ecosystem employs about 1,200 people. She also said the agency operates about 22 owned facilities (including group homes) and supports roughly 30 group homes through residential providers.

Johnson invited commissioners and the public to an annual meeting on May 21 and offered building tours; she also noted community events including a March 21 “mental health night” at a local hockey game and a May 10 Run for Recovery 5K.

Why it matters: County commissioners consider board reappointments and budgeting that intersect with CMH operations. Commissioners asked procedural questions about the authority that governs CMH and about advisory boards; CMH said both the governing board and advisory board hold open meetings and provide a pipeline for community members to gain board experience.

Ending: Commissioners did not take formal action during the presentation beyond opening the item for questions and noting that reappointments to the Community Mental Health Board would be considered under a separate agenda item.