If you or someone you know is experiencing an emotional, mental health or substance use emergency; don’t know where to begin seeking help for yourself or others; aren’t sure how to handle a crisis or a situation that may lead to a crisis – Call 844-493-8255.
The Youth CRT responds in the schools and the community while coordinating with the community-based response teams. The aim is to ensure young people and their families are connected to needed mental health and substance use disorder services and there is effective communication between school, home and community.
In May of 2019, upon review of 2018 data, and following the STEM School shooting, the Douglas County Commissioners appropriated $331,250 to support ongoing funding for the creation of a Youth Community Response Team. The Youth CRT is designed to complement the efforts of schools to comprehensively address mental health and substance use disorder needs.
Since the launch of the YCRT in November of 2019, the team has had 288 encounters with 33% being treated in place, 34% resulting in direct placement in a mental health facility, and 30% being released to a parent or back to class. Only 3% of YCRT calls have resulted in an Emergency Department visit and since the beginning of the program the YCRT has not made a single arrest, an accomplishment shared by the three community teams in the Douglas County CRT program.
