Regionalized Mobile Crisis Services for Children & Youth will Improve the Care Being Provided to Tennesseans In Need

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 | 09:15am

NASHVILLE – To ensure that more children and youth who face a mental health crisis receive the services that they need in a timely and cost-effective manner, the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) has regionalized the way in which mobile crisis services are provided around the state.

“The provision of consistent, high-quality crisis services for children & youth across the State of Tennessee is a high priority for us,” TDMHSAS Commissioner E. Douglas Varney said. “We feel that regional service providers have better knowledge of the total array of residential and inpatient services available in their community, as well as improved collaboration/partnerships with other local systems involved in the care of children & youth.”

In January, an Announcement of Funding was made for the regionalized provision of children and youth mobile crisis services. Commissioner Varney reviewed the recommendations made by the review committee and has decided to move forward with the following regional awards:

  • Region 1: Frontier Health
  • Region 2: Youth Villages
  • Region 3: Helen Ross McNabb
  • Region 4: Youth Villages
  • Region 5: Youth Villages
  • Region 6: Mental Health Cooperative
  • Region 7: Youth Villages
  • Region 8: Youth Villages
  • Region 9: Youth Villages
  • Region 10: Youth Villages
  • Region 11: Youth Villages
  • Region 12: Youth Villages

 

A competitive process was used to make this selection with the goal of serving more children & youth around the state with existing resources.

“We believe this regionalized approach will promote provider comparisons on quantity, quality, and overall outcomes for children in crisis and their families,” Commissioner Varney said. “It will improve access and availability to services within communities.  And it will allow us to compare the cost of services provided between regions.”

Throughout this process, TDMHSAS will move forward in a thoughtful, deliberate way to monitor changes carefully and ensure that children and youth crisis services are provided in the most effective, accessible, and high-quality way possible.

Press Releases | Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services | Media Advisories