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Volunteers of America and Albany Care Team describe regional mental-health, stabilization and housing services
Summary
Volunteers of America presenters described the Albany Care Team (ACT) program, local outpatient and residential options, the gatekeeping program tied to Title 25 detentions, and how co-responder and CIT training support mental-health crisis care in Albany County.
Kristen (last name not specified), regional director for Volunteers of America (VOA) Wyoming-Montana-South Dakota, and Heather Lismore, the Albany Care Team community crisis case manager, briefed the Laramie City Council on Feb. 25 about VOA services and the local Albany Care Team program.
"Our vision at VOA is everyone living in the fullness of a healthy mind, body, and spirit," Kristen said as she described VOA's regional outpatient clinics, telehealth capacity, medication providers and inpatient beds in nearby counties.
Kristen said VOA operates community mental-health clinics in nine Wyoming towns and offers outpatient therapy, case management, skills training and peer specialist services (via telehealth in the southern region). She described plans and recent expansions including a new legacy building in Cheyenne that will add inpatient substance-use treatment beds and social-detox and expansion of crisis-stabilization capacity at Serenity Place.
Kristen described VOA's gatekeeping program — funded by Albany County — that accepts high-risk individuals detained under "Title 25" and provides intensive case management. "When they're in this program, they work with Megan Jackson who is my gatekeeper ... she wraps around those individuals and follows them for up to 2 years," Kristen said.
Heather Lismore described Albany Care Team outcomes since the program began in February 2024. She said the program has received 73 referrals, with more than 60 clients currently active, and has provided co-response with law-enforcement partners, helped clients access housing and benefits and connected people with community resources. "Through the Albany Cares team program, we've been able to help many individuals in our community who are dealing with mental health challenges that we may not have had contact with otherwise," Heather said, and gave a case example of a client who applied for disability, engaged in services and connected to housing and food assistance.
Council members and the mayor praised VOA and the Albany Care Team for coordination with the police department and the University of Wyoming Police Department. Councilors asked about court-mandated programs; Kristen said the domestic-violence offenders program is frequently court-ordered and clinicians provide assessments and treatment recommendations.
Kristen noted local VOA housing inventory in Laramie (31 apartments across three complexes) and other low-income or staffed residential options across the region. She described partnerships with Serenity Place for crisis stabilization and said some services require voluntary engagement.
Ending — Council members commended VOA and the Albany Care Team for building co-responder capacity, expanding regional bed capacity and supporting vulnerable residents; VOA staff asked the council and community to continue partnerships and funding support as the programs grow.
