Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Funding Capacity topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council probes funding and capacity for mobile crisis teams as agencies propose $15M outreach plan
Summary
City agencies outlined a $15 million proposal for 24/7 outreach and described Medicaid and settlement funds; council members pressed BHSB and the mayor's office to show how marketing dollars and telecom-fee revenue will translate into faster mobile crisis response.
City officials told the Committee of the Whole on Aug. 27 that expanding mobile crisis capacity and building alternative, non-police response models will require both one-time and recurring funds.
Director Whaley of the mayor's overdose and recovery office said a planned 24/7 outreach program ("20 fourseven") is a $15,000,000 investment in development and implementation, and described BCORE (Baltimore Comprehensive Overdose Response to End the Epidemic) as a partnership to expand treatment and referrals. Adrienne Bridenstine, BHSB's vice president for policy and communications, said a $10,000,000 settlement earmark for 988 public education is structured as $2,000,000 per year over five years to fund paid marketing, an ambassador program, and opinion polling to measure awareness.
Council members sought clarity about using a new state telecom fee for 988 and whether those proceeds could be allocated to mobile crisis teams rather than only to call-center operations. BHSB said the state-administered telecom fee currently funds call-center operations (text/chat/voice) and that BHSB is in talks with the Maryland Department of Health about broader uses; officials said Medicaid reimbursement is available for mobile crisis response but likely will not cover the full cost, requiring a local funding gap analysis.
Several council questions pushed agencies to spell out what scaling would cost and what short-term (6-12 month) funds exist beyond the marketing earmark. Council President Cohen directed deputies and agency leads to return with a detailed, seven-business-day plan that includes infrastructure needs, staffing models and cost estimates to shorten response times and expand 24/7 coverage.
