Call 1-855-800-1239 and ask to have Mobile Crisis Outreach dispatched in Johnson and Iowa Counties.
Call 1-833-854-7613 to have Mobile Crisis dispatched in Louisa, Washington, Keokuk, and Jefferson Counties. More information about our Mobile Crisis services in southeast Iowa can be found at communitymobilecrisis.org.
CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank provides 24/7/365 Mobile Crisis Outreach (MCO) in Johnson and Iowa counties through ECR. Mobile Crisis Outreach has recently expanded to provide services in Louisa, Washington, Keokuk, and Jefferson Counties through SEIL.
With Mobile Crisis Outreach, mental health counselors are dispatched to homes, schools, emergency rooms, or public places where a mental health crisis is occurring. Response time is within 60 minutes of dispatch.
Our MCO team is located in the GuideLink Center in Iowa City. CommUnity counselors are able to screen clients arriving at the GuideLink facility and provide them options, such as crisis beds for those staying longer than 24 hours, a crisis observation unit and a sobering unit.
The goals of Mobile Crisis Outreach are to:
- stabilize the crisis
- assess the need for referrals to other community services
- reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and arrests
- admit the client to a crisis stabilization bed* when necessary
*Crisis stabilization beds provide a one- to five- day stay for people who are having a mental health crisis but do not need psychiatric hospitalization. Staff at the crisis stabilization beds can assist people with transportation to medical appointments during their stay and provide linkages to needed community resources.
Who can call Mobile Crisis Outreach?
Anyone who is experiencing or is concerned about someone experiencing a mental health crisis can call.
Please call Mobile Crisis Outreach if you or the person in crisis:
- is having suicidal ideations
- is unsure whether psychiatric hospitalization is necessary
- needs crisis de-escalation, emotional support or referral to community resources
- needs a safe place to stay for a few days to relax and de-stress from the crisis
Mobile Crisis Outreach is not appropriate:
- when the situation needs immediate response such as a medical emergency or a current threat of violence
- when the person in crisis does not agree to talk with mobile crisis counselors**
**Mobile Crisis Outreach is a voluntary program. The counselors may still come to speak further with the person that made the call, but the person in crisis has the right to refuse to speak with the counselors.
CommUnity mental health counselors respond to dispatches in Johnson and Iowa counties, and counselors with other contracted agencies respond to dispatches in Benton, Bremer, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Jones, and Linn counties. Other Iowa counties also offer Mobile Crisis Outreach through their mental health and disability services providers. To learn more, visit the Iowa Department of Human Services website.
What can I expect during a visit?
The counselors will talk with you about the situation and ask some questions about your mental health history. After the counselors have a good understanding of what you are experiencing, they will work with you to develop a safety plan and connect you to community resources. If the counselors believe after talking with you that you are going to hurt yourself or someone else, they may contact first responders to assure your safety.
What can I expect after a visit?
A Mobile Crisis Follow-Up Counselor will schedule a follow-up call the next day. Further counseling, referrals, and Mobile Crisis Outreach visits may be advised.
