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Cook County to review proposal for regional nonprofit to manage mobile crisis response; presentation planned May
Summary
The county's director briefed the board on a proposal from First Call for Help to hold the mobile crisis response license and employ local responders; First Call will present to advisory councils May 5 and to the board May 19 for potential contract action.
Cook County Director Grace told the Public Health and Human Services Board on April 21 that the county received a proposal from First Call for Help, a regional nonprofit, to become the licensed provider of mobile crisis response services for the county.
Under the proposal outlined by Grace, First Call for Help would hold the program license and directly employ locally based responders to provide 24/7 coverage, and at least one DHS grant that currently supports Cook County—overage would transition to First Call for Help later in the year. Grace said the organization has experience running mobile crisis teams in other rural Minnesota counties and serves as a regional 988 call center in the Arrowhead region.
"I want to make sure that our advisory councils have time to hear the full detail of the proposal, ask questions, provide feedback," Grace said, inviting First Call for Help to present to the county's advisory councils on May 5; the agency will also present in person to the full PHS board on May 19, when the board could consider a decision and any necessary contract amendment with DHS.
Grace emphasized that, if the arrangement proceeds, the intent is to keep services locally embedded and staffed: First Call representatives said they would spend a week in Cook County meeting partners and training potential local responders so the service remains locally based. Commissioners asked for materials and an opportunity for public and advisory-council feedback before any board vote.
No contract or motion was considered at the April meeting; staff set out a process for the agency to present further details and for the board and advisory councils to ask questions before deciding.
