Frontier Behavioral Health (FBH), based in Washington, has implemented trauma-informed care (TIC) as a comprehensive framework since 2015. More than half of the general population and 90% of those served by the public mental health system have experienced trauma. Rather than asking “What’s wrong with you?” FBH asks “What happened to you and how can we help?” as the foundation of client-driven care and community outreach.
Crisis Response Infrastructure
FBH operates a 24/7 crisis line, 988, and mobile crisis teams to respond to behavioral health emergencies in the community. The agency’s Mobile Rapid Response Crisis Team (MRRCT), one of six endorsed by the state of Washington, provides urgent care to people in acute crisis. Crisis calls that cannot be resolved through supportive listening by the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or Regional Crisis Line are transferred to FBH’s Mobile Dispatch Unit (MDU), where clinicians assess each situation and assign the appropriate in-person mobile response team. The MRRCT comprises two distinct units trained to provide intervention and stabilization services to youths and adults around-the-clock. A recent example demonstrated how the approach works: a 911 operator diverted a mental health call directly to FBH’s 988 crisis hub; the crisis team provided real-time support, deployed a mobile responder, and de-escalated the situation without police intervention, with the individual receiving same-day outpatient follow-up.
Community Partnership Goals
FBH is committed to expanding its 988 services and deepening collaboration with the county’s 911 system. The 911/988 diversion partnership delivers “the right response” at the “right time” by reducing unnecessary law enforcement or emergency room involvement and providing faster access to behavioral health care while freeing up more costly resources for emergent situations.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/frontier-behavioral-health-trauma-informed-care/