WAUKEGAN – The Lake County Health Department announced the state has awarded the health department a grant of more than $1.9 million to fund a Mobile Response Program, which will increase access to immediate support for those experiencing mental health or substance use crises.
The Mobile Response Program will be an expansion of the health department’s Crisis Care Program and its voluntary Respite Program. With the addition of mobile response services, the Crisis Care Program will be able to dispatch a highly specialized two-person team to assist a person experiencing a mental health crisis in Lake County. Each team includes a mental health clinician and engagement specialist.
Engagement specialists are individuals who have been successful in the recovery process and are skilled to help others experiencing similar situations.
“We are proud to add the Mobile Response Program to our existing mental health services” said Sam Johnson, director of behavioral health at the Lake County Health Department. “Especially important is having a Mobile Response Team with lived experience and understanding of the individual’s crisis.”
Mental health clinicians and those who have firsthand experience with mental health illness or substance use disorders and who want to make a difference in the community as an engagement specialist are encouraged to apply. For information, visit lakecountyil.gov/4652/Mobile-Response-Program.
“While the program will ultimately provide mental health emergency services, we hope that it will also reduce the stigma surrounding mental health crisis. This program strives to create space for meaningful conversations about what a person needs during a mental health emergency,” said Amy Greskiw, program coordinator of the Mobile Response Program. “We know that we can’t do this alone. Collaboration with clients and the community is going to be crucial in making sure that the Mobile Response Program is successful.”