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Committee backs $2.9 million grant to expand crisis stabilization center and mobile crisis teams
Summary
Council staff recommended and the committee supported a roughly $2.9 million state supplemental appropriation to expand residential crisis stabilization services, add 25 positions, launch a second center (adult diversion focus), and expand mobile crisis outreach team (MCOT) capacity, with an eye toward COMAR licensing and Medicaid reimbursement.
Montgomery County's Health and Human Services Committee reviewed Supplemental Appropriation 25-23, a state grant request of approximately $2,900,000 to expand behavioral health crisis stabilization services and a mobile crisis outreach team pilot. Council staff said the funding targets operations and staffing to increase capacity, meet Maryland COMAR requirements and position programs for Medicaid reimbursement.
"The crisis stabilization room, which opened in 2023, has served an admitted number of 409 individuals," Council staff said, noting gender and identity breakdowns and reporting roughly 1,994 MCOT comprehensive assessments in FY24. Staff also described four current adult residential crisis beds with a 72-hour maximum use period, planned expansion to serve youth, and the addition of 25 new positions to reduce access barriers and increase timely interventions.
Monica Martin, Chief of Behavioral Health and Crisis Services, described the proposal as part of a broader county crisis system and said the department aims to coordinate with law enforcement to facilitate diversion "from the criminal justice system even in advance of the, diversion center facility opening up at 7 Locks Road." Committee members who toured the stabilization center expressed support; council staff recommended approval and noted the county is preparing licensing and reimbursement steps should Medicaid funding terms allow.
The committee voiced support for the recommendation; staff and DHHS emphasized contingency planning given federal and state budget uncertainties and the goal of sustaining services through a mix of Medicaid fee collections, grants and other partnerships.
