Calvert County authorizes MOA to link 988, 911 and mobile crisis team for behavioral-health calls

Calvert County commissioners on July 15 voted to authorize the board president to sign a memorandum of agreement that integrates the national 988 crisis line, the county's 911 emergency dispatch, and the local mobile crisis team (MCT) to better triage behavioral-health calls.

Stanley Harris, communications chief with the county's emergency communications division, described the change as a way to match response to need: "By bringing in 988, this allows 911 to transfer those calls," he said, explaining that low-acuity calls where a caller wants to talk, or where a clinician is more appropriate, can be routed to trained mental-health specialists instead of tying up police resources. Harris said the MOA includes triggers to transfer calls back to 911 if a situation escalates and requires police or fire response.

Supporters at the meeting said the arrangement builds on Calvert's existing mobile and walk-in services. Andrea McDonald Fingland, director of the Calvert County Local Behavioral Health Authority, said Calvert is among the first Maryland counties to execute such an MOA and praised local coordination: "We have a really robust continuum that we've been developing over the past 6, 7 years," she said, and the agreement helps ensure people get the "right services to help them live lives full of wellness and recovery." Adrianna Fazzo, assistant director for behavioral-health diversion at Community Crisis Services (the designated 988 contact center for Southern Maryland), added, "We are the designated contact center for 988 in Southern Maryland," and said the center will coordinate with local police to de-escalate and divert appropriate calls to community resources.

Commissioners asked about call volumes and safety protocols. Harris said dispatch data are tracked and that emergency medical dispatch protocols identify high-acuity codes that would dispatch police and MCT together when needed; otherwise, 988 or MCT can provide phone-based or in-person clinical support. After discussion, Commissioner Cox moved to approve the authorization; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The MOA delegates coordination among the Department of Public Safety Emergency Communications Division, the Calvert County Health Department, and Community Crisis Services, with the stated goal of connecting callers to the most appropriate resource without unnecessary involvement of first responders. No fiscal impact was reported at the time of the vote.