Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis Training and Technical Assistance Center (M-TAC)
Welcome! The Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis Training and Technical Assistance Center (M-TAC) is a DHCS-funded project, led by the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS), and is dedicated to supporting California counties in implementing the Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis Services Benefit through two distinct pathways, a standard implementation process and an expedited implementation process. M-TAC provides training, resources, and ongoing coaching and consultation to counties and their mobile crisis teams.
Mobile crisis services are a community-based intervention designed to provide de-escalation and relief to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis wherever they are, including at home, work, school, or in the community. Mobile crisis services are provided by a multidisciplinary team of trained behavioral health professionals in the least restrictive setting. Mobile crisis services include screening, assessment, stabilization, de-escalation, follow-up, and coordination with healthcare services and other supports. Mobile crisis services are intended to provide community-based crisis resolution and reduce unnecessary law enforcement involvement and emergency department utilization. The mobile crisis services benefit will ensure that Medi-Cal beneficiaries have access to coordinated crisis care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
Required Core Trainings
M-TAC is currently developing the core module trainings required for all mobile crisis response providers. Check back for upcoming trainings on crisis assessment, trauma-informed care, crisis intervention/de-escalation, harm reduction, and safety planning.
Required Enhanced Trainings
DHCS identified additional required enhanced trainings that will cover crisis response strategies for special populations (Children, Youth, and Families; Tribal Communities; and Individuals with Intellectual and Development Disabilities).
Recommended Supplemental Trainings
While not required, these trainings are highly recommended and are being offered to support the development of specialized competencies in mobile crisis response.
Monthly Community of Practice
Next Session: May 1, 2024 | 1:00 p.m.
Please join us on Wednesday, May 1 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm for the next Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis Training and Technical Assistance Center (M-TAC) Community of Practice (CoP). Due to scheduling conflicts, this session was rescheduled from May 2.
The M-TAC CoP is replacing the monthly office hours and will continue normally the first Thursday of each month at 11:00 am.
These sessions are an opportunity to engage with your peers from other counties to learn about strategies, best practices, and ways to continuously enhance mobile crisis services for California communities.
Implementation Plan
Please find the Implementation Plan (IP) template, as described in Section VIII(c) of BHIN 23-025. Counties must complete an IP and receive written approval from DHCS.
New Archived Trainings Available
February Community of Practice
February 1, 2024
RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING
The February CoP focused on coordination with outside delivery systems. The CoP also featured guest speaker, MK Youngblood, who provided an introduction on best practices for outreaching and collaborating with tribes on providing mobile crisis services.
January Community of Practice for June 30 Implementors
January 9, 2024
RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING
This community of practice series is offered specifically for the twelve June 30 Implementor counties. The January session was an orientation to the M-TAC project and provided an introduction…
Process and Safeguards for Maintaining Privacy and Confidentiality
January 2, 2024
RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING
This training will review the BHIN 23-025 requirements for maintaining privacy and confidentiality and review the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and 42 C.F.R. Part 2 as they relate to mobile crisis teams as health care providers and sharing protected information in crisis situations.
Appropriate Use of Telehealth for Mobile Crisis Services
December 22, 2023
RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING
This training will provide an overview of the appropriate use of telehealth for mobile crisis teams and the requirements outlined in the Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis Services benefit Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) 23-025. Participants will learn about telehealth technology options, standards of care in California, the benefits and challenges in telehealth use, and the next steps for getting started.
Psychiatric Advance Directives (PADs)
December 18, 2023
RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING
This training will address what is a Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD), what mobile crisis teams need to know about PADs in their crisis response work, and how mobile crisis teams can tell individuals and families about the benefits of developing a PAD and provide them with resources to create one as part of follow-up care.
Eligibility Verification, Documentation Requirements, Service Guidelines, and Access to Services Criteria for Mobile Crisis Services
December 14, 2023
RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING
This training will discuss three processes that are key to the administration of the mobile crisis benefit: eligibility verification, documentation requirements, service guidelines and access to services criteria.
M-TAC Monthly Meeting
December 7, 2023
RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING
The December office hour was a follow-up to the M-TAC Billing and Reimbursement Training and was hosted alongside the DHCS team. The team went over the new DHCS Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis FAQ and answered billing and reimbursement questions from counties.
Accessibility Strategies
December 6, 2023
RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTAL TRAINING
This informational training will introduce effective communication strategies, adaptive equipment, and other accommodation supports for mobile crisis teams working with individuals with hearing and visual impairments. It will also include best practice information on the use of interpreters during mobile crisis services.
Behavioral Health Information Notice
No. 23-025
This document provides guidance regarding implementation of the Medi-Cal Community-Based Mobile Crisis Intervention Services benefit by county mental health plans (MHPs), Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) counties and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) counties.
Featured Resource
The National Guidelines for Child and Youth Behavioral Health Crisis Care offers best practices, implementation strategies, and practical guidance for the design and development of services that meet the needs of children, youth, and their families experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Additional technical guidance is provided in a companion report produced by SAMHSA in conjunction with the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, A Safe Place to Be: Crisis Stabilization Services and Other Supports for Children and Youth.