1. (1) Each MCOT shall have at least one member of the team that provides services at the site of the crisis.
2. (2) Each MCOT shall collaborate with local and statewide crisis line services, and additional available crisis response services including stabilization and mobile response services.

3. (3) When an MCOT is dispatched from the statewide crisis line, the statewide crisis line staff shall provide, when possible, the following information for an individual in need of services:

   1. (a) the name;
   2. (b) the date of birth;
   3. (c) the presenting problem as demonstrated through the individual's current behaviors;
   4. (d) the location;
   5. (e) history of violence and substance use;
   6. (f) the presence of weapons, dogs, or other dangerous conditions in the house; and
   7. (g) the need for a coordination plan to include police assistance, and if available, the family's willingness to help coordinate services while accounting for relevant safety and security issues.
4. (4) Each MCOT shall respond to a crisis call as promptly as reasonably possible when law enforcement requests assistance and is staying on scene.

5. (5) Each MCOT shall have the capacity to:

   1. (a) intervene wherever a crisis occurs;
   2. (b) serve individuals unknown to the local mental health authority;
   3. (c) coordinate multiple simultaneous requests for services; and

   4. (d) work closely with:

      1. (i) crisis hotlines;
      2. (ii) dispatch;
      3. (iii) EMS;
      4. (iv) fire;
      5. (v) hospital emergency departments;
      6. (vi) police;
      7. (vii) schools; and
      8. (viii) other related agencies.
6. (6) Each MCOT shall operate 24 hours a day, and seven days per week in providing community-based crisis intervention, screening, assessment, and referrals to appropriate resources.

7. (7) The minimum information collected by a MCOT when screening an individual in crisis shall be:

   1. (a) identifying information;
   2. (b) the chief complaint or presenting problem;
   3. (c) acute medical concerns and chronic health conditions; and
   4. (d) the names of current healthcare providers treating the individual.

8. (8) Each MCOT shall administer an ongoing assessment, if clinically indicated by the initial screening, that includes:

   1. (a) any imminent danger to the individual in crisis through potentially lethal means of harm to self or others;
   2. (b) risk for suicide using an empirically validated instrument that has been scientifically proven to detect risk for suicide;
   3. (c) the individual's emotional status and imminent psychosocial needs;
   4. (d) the names of individual strengths and available coping mechanisms;
   5. (e) resources that can increase service participation and success;
   6. (f) the most appropriate and least restrictive service alternative for the individual; and
   7. (g) each referral mechanism and procedure the individual needs to access services.
9. (9) Following each assessment, if an individual has a risk for harm to self or others the MCOT shall engage the person to establish a crisis response plan using an evidenced based safety plan or crisis prevention practice.
10. (10) Each MCOT shall provide an individual with access to an emergency department or other crisis receiving facility to address an ongoing safety concern and to obtain further evaluations, when clinically indicated.

11. (11) Each MCOT shall be staffed by:

    1. (a) at least one licensed mental health therapist who is capable of providing a clinical assessment, and is either:

       1. (i) a designated examiner; or
       2. (ii) a mental health officer; and
    2. (b) a certified crisis worker.
12. (12) Each MCOT shall ensure its staff understand the emergency civil commitment process as described in Section 26B-5-331.
13. (13) Each MCOT shall ensure that one member of its staff is a designated examiner or a mental health officer to facilitate civil commitments.
14. (14) Each MCOT shall, when reasonably possible, utilize certified peer support specialists and certified family peer support specialists, in conjunction with a mental health therapist when deploying for mobile crisis outreach.
15. (15) Each MCOT that does not have a certified peer support specialist or family peer support specialist shall make reasonable efforts to add a certified peer support specialist and certified family peer support specialist to the team as soon as possible
16. (16) Each MCOT shall ensure that at least two certified crisis workers are available for mobile crisis outreach services.
17. (17) In cases where a mental health therapist is not a deploying member of the team, each MCOT shall ensure a mental health therapist is available through telehealth.
18. (18) Each MCOT shall ensure at least one member of the team is available on site if co-responding with law enforcement or another first responder, and that two individuals always respond in person.
19. (19) Each MCOT shall ensure each individual in crisis access to a designated examiner for consultation during each MCOT response.

20. (20) Each MCOT shall ensure that each response to an individual in crisis provides services in the least restrictive manner and setting, and that MCOT personnel attempt to:

    1. (a) reduce inpatient treatment admissions and emergency department visits, where appropriate;
    2. (b) increase jail diversions; and
    3. (c) reduce law enforcement involvement while maintaining public safety.
21. (21) Each MCOT shall collaborate with stakeholders involved in the crisis service delivery system and partner to resolve service delivery concerns.
22. (22) Each MCOT shall have a written plan in place that outlines triage policies and coordination of crisis response services with community stakeholders.

23. (23) Each plan described in Subsection (22) shall address community collaboration with:

    1. (a) local mental health and substance abuse authorities;
    2. (b) stabilization and mobile response providers;
    3. (c) local law enforcement;
    4. (d) fire departments;
    5. (e) dispatch;
    6. (f) hospital emergency departments;
    7. (g) schools;

    8. (h) emergency medical services;

       1. (i) the Department of Health and Human Services;
    9. (j) social service partners;

    10. (k) health plans; and

        1. (l) crisis services in the local community.

24. (24) Each MCOT shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with each local mental health and local substance abuse authority operating a crisis line in the MCOT's region, and the statewide crisis line. Each memorandum of understanding shall include:

    1. (a) a data sharing process between the statewide crisis line, the local authority, and the MCOT including data on the number of callers from the region where the MCOT provides services;
    2. (b) a plan for mobile deployments from the statewide crisis line that incorporates a clear procedure for coordination between the statewide crisis line and the MCOT provider for deploying MCOT services to individuals that have called the statewide crisis line to request assistance;
    3. (c) a process for warm hand offs into ongoing services between the statewide crisis line, the MCOT, and the local authority;
    4. (d) a description of data that must be collected; and

    5. (e) procedures for:

       1. (i) case consultation on services;
       2. (ii) consultation on individuals who receive frequent services; and
       3. (iii) collaboration.

KEY: mobile crisis outreach team, MCOT standards, statewide crisis response standards

Date of Last Change: October 9, 2025

Notice of Continuation: November 22, 2023

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 26B-5-112(5); 26B-5-112.5(5); 26B-5-609(2); 26B-5-609(3)