What is Northwest Connections (a.k.a. Crisis Services)?
Northwest
Connections is a collaborative effort between on-call mental health
workers, law
enforcement personnel, county personnel and community providers to
coordinate an immediate response to assist a person experiencing a
mental health crisis.
What are the components of the program?
-
Telephone
–
A telephone service
provides callers with information, support, assessment, intervention,
emergency service coordination and referral for additional,
alternative or ongoing services.
-
Mobile
–
A mobile crisis service
provides on-site and in-person intervention for individuals
experiencing a mental health crisis.
-
Walk-in
–
A walk-in service
provides face-to-face support and intervention at an identified
location or locations on an unscheduled basis.
-
Stabilization
–
This is an
optional program component whereby an individual may receive emergency
services within one of the following settings (outpatient clinic,
school, detention center, jail, crisis hotel, adult family home, CBRF,
foster home, group home, CCI, or an individual’s own home), during a
transitional period of crisis.
-
Linkage and Coordination
–
Linkage and
coordination services support cooperation in the delivery of emergency
mental health care within the county in which the program operates.
What are the goals of the program?
o
Apply the least restrictive treatment approach necessary.
o
Utilize the continuum of resources within the community.
o
Engage people in their own crisis planning and development of their
resources.
o
Improve follow up – Each person accessing the system will receive some
form of linkage and coordination.
o
Reduce the number of unnecessary Emergency Detentions (ED) – Reduce
the number of people being placed in hospitals without consent due to
imminent risk and mental illness.
o
The county must pay hospital costs for any individual being detained
without health care coverage. Other counties have noted a significant
decrease in EDs, which saves counties money.
o
Focus on the prevention of crisis.
o
Address the needs of people early on to prevent unnecessary costs to
the system.
How will Northwest Connections interface with the county system?
Northwest Connections (NWC) will have a toll free number. Law Enforcement as well as
community members can access the line. NWC has procedures to manage
the potential over lap of services (CPS and Juvenile Justice). We
work with the county to develop a plan to address these issues. We
work with you to develop a seamless process.
NWCGC is an organization providing many
services. Please contact a specific division if you would like ongoing
assistance.
Northwest Connections 1-888-552-6642 currently provides
Mental Health/ AODA crisis services for the following counties:
24
hours/day
Barron
Chippewa
Columbia
Eau Claire
Jackson
Pierce
Polk
St. Croix
Non-business hours:
Clark
Dunn
Richland
Trempealeau
Washburn
Mobile Only:
Adams
Wood
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