First Call For Help Of Itasca County

Programs: Crisis intervention: in 2017 the first call for help crisis team operated 24/7/365 with 24 mhp staff who responded to 4232 mental health calls to residents of itasca county. Year end accomplishments include conducting 832 face to face mental health assessments, 521 crisis interventions, 618 phone assessments, and 1090 stabilization contacts for individuals in crisis. We provided crisis services and facilitated care to 133 individuals who were not the financial responsibility of itasca county but were located within our county when the required services. We facilitated referrals to mnsure for 198 individuals who were not insured and received assessments by our team. We facilitated behavioral health unit placements for 203 individuals and crisis placement of 59 in efforts to avoid bh hospitalization.

new leaf healing center: during 2017 our agency developed, trained staff, successfully licensed, and opened a residential crisis service/crisis bed facility for adults experiencing a mental health crisis who desire community based services, in efforts to avoid behavioral health hospital placement. The program opened on may 15, 2017 and served 87 consumers (guests). 80 % of the crisis residents were from itasca county, 24% self reported homelessness. 93% of the residents avoided hospitalization due to crisis services provided at new leaf. 99% of the residents were connected with med management, therapy, chemical health services and or physical health services prior to discharge. 2% of the residents were discharged to a safe shelter upon achieving stability of their mental health.

i & r: during 2017 our agency received 12,586 calls into our call center from residents of the 7 county 2-1-1 hub we service. Which resulted in providing 11,134 resources to those residents in need. We provided emergency housing via the provision of tents to 19 individuals/families who were homeless and without shelter. We provided 23 emergency food boxes to homeless individuals who phoned our call center, in addition to, providing 198 people referrals to mnsure and 27 financial assistance with medical related needs. We have developed and maintained a resource data base of 2331 agencies containing information regarding assistance available, qualifications to receive services and contact information to access services.