How the Top Crisis Teams Are Expanding

From North Carolina to Ontario to Nebraska, new partnerships and programs are transforming how first responders handle mental health crises—one call at a time.

May 14, 2025

This week’s edition of Badges and Behavioral Health takes you coast to coast with crisis response teams on the move.

From youth-focused interventions in North Carolina to co-responder success stories in Georgia and Nebraska, the message is clear: collaboration saves lives.

Dive in for a three-minute rundown on the latest behavioral health expansions, funding wins, and field-tested innovations.

Let’s jump into it:

Today’s Brief:

  • Crisis Intervention Briefs

  • Thomasville Police and Therapists Team Up to Address Mental Health Crises

  • Bridgeway Behavioral Health Brief

  • Early Success from Lincoln’s Co-Responder Program

  • Maryland Behavioral Health Brief

    Total Read Time: 3 Minutes

👮Crisis Intervention Briefs:

UNC Greensboro is scaling its MORES program, delivering mobile crisis response for youth ages 3–21. Teams provide on-scene stabilization and up to eight weeks of follow-up care across eight counties—with plans to grow statewide.

A new partnership in Almaguin Highlands pairs police with mental health clinicians for joint crisis response. The team also offers proactive outreach to improve mental health access in rural areas.

Westmoreland County is teaming up with a local nonprofit to bring mobile crisis teams to five more communities. The goal: faster support and fewer emergency room visits.

Montana State University (MSU) has received a four-year, $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to enhance the state's behavioral health support workforce. Building upon the Montana Family Support Program, which has trained 140 individuals since 2020, this funding aims to train an additional 108 paraprofessionals.

The initiative focuses on equipping community-based workers to support youth and families affected by mental health challenges, trauma, and substance use disorders, particularly in rural and tribal areas. Training will be provided through MSU’s Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center, emphasizing culturally responsive care and peer support.

Behavioral Health Brief #1

Julota empowers smarter crisis responses by simplifying and streamlining Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health programs. By integrating hospital, EMS, and social services data into a centralized platform, it enables seamless, secure, and HIPAA-compliant collaboration. Automated reporting ensures compliance, while customizable workflows address community-specific needs. With actionable insights, teams can improve outcomes and secure greater funding, making Julota the only software purpose-built to bridge law enforcement and behavioral health with compassion and efficiency.

👉 Discover Julota Today

The Thomasville Police Department has partnered with Georgia Pines to launch a co-responder program aimed at improving responses to mental health emergencies. This initiative pairs licensed therapists with police officers during crisis calls, providing on-scene support to de-escalate situations and connect individuals to appropriate treatment services.

The program seeks to reduce unnecessary arrests and alleviate the burden on emergency departments by offering immediate mental health assistance. Georgia Pines reports that nearly 25% of the individuals they served last year were from Thomas County, highlighting the community's need for such services. By integrating mental health professionals into emergency responses, Thomasville aims to offer more compassionate and effective support to residents in crisis.

Behavioral Health Brief #2

Thank you for reading Badges and Behavioral Health.

We’ll return next issue with more frontline updates, policy shifts, and program highlights. Until then—stay informed, stay safe, and stay connected.

What did you think of this weeks content?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.