The Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) Team is designed to provide effective and timely care for individuals experiencing mental health crises who request support in their community. MCR is designed to assist in de-escalating crises to reduce need for more intensive interventions and higher level of care. The goal is to allow individuals to regulate and maintain safely in their community. MCR attempts to divert from the need for law enforcement, ambulatory services, emergency department, and acute hospitalization. The Mobile Crisis Responder is a part of the MCR Team and provides services in person wherever the crisis is occurring. A Mobile Crisis Responder provides medically necessary services to mitigate risk, increase safety for the person served and others, and enhance stabilization in their community. The Mobile Crisis Responder assists the person served in reaching stabilization for their acute crisis through
psychoeducation regarding their mental health needs, symptoms management through use of a Crisis Safety Plan, relapse prevention by identifying risks and buffers, social support connection, and resource acquisition.
- Work in collaboration with members of MCR Team and other departments within Astra to respond to community members in crisis.
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Respond to calls in person in the community within 60 minutes of the initial call whenever possible. Deployment should be the first response option. MCR is not telephonic service.
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Provide person- and family-centered services with a recovery and stability focus designed to promote skills for coping with and managing mental health symptoms.
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Approach interactions with persons served and colleagues from a trauma-informed perspective.
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Utilize Evidence Based Practices (EBPs) in service delivery.
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Create new, or review and confirm, existing safety plans customized to each person served.
- Utilize appropriate assessment instruments to help monitor the progress of individuals served and ensure necessary services are received in the appropriate intensity and duration.
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Provide services to meet the whole health needs of individuals served using a strengths-based approach.
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Facilitate the utilization of the individual’s natural supports and resources to promote recovery and resilience.
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Complete up to eight weeks of follow-up care until the person served no longer requires crisis services or until the person served is adequately connected to mental health supports.
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Work in partnership with each person served to assess strengths, identify wants and needs, and any barriers/obstacles that may pose challenges to goal attainment that relate to the crisis.
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Provide education, supportive and situational counseling, problem solving, role modeling, referrals, advocacy and safe compassion.
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Work as part of an integrated treatment team collaborating with the individual served, family members or others they want involved in their treatment and other treatment team members (internal and external) to help support the individual in their treatment and recovery.
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If an individual does need a higher level of intervention, MCR team members should engage that next level of intervention, provide a warm hand-off, and remain with the person served until
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they are fully in the care of the next level of interventionists. This may include transporting the individual.
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Follow all safety protocols as determined by the program.
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Complete all required trainings.
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Complete KDADS monthly tracking form.
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Complete all required documents within 24 hours, including any incident reports as necessary. Whenever possible, documentation should be completed by the end of the shift.
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Make necessary reports to DCF and APS within 24 hours.
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Attend staff meetings, trainings, group and individual supervisions, as directed by supervisor.
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Remain compliant with KDADS mandatory MCR trainings, maintain any certifications, licenses, or trainings required for the team member’s specific position specialty in accordance with state
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licensing regulations, grant and other contractual standards.
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Demonstrate cultural and linguistic competence.
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Demonstrate solution-focused and collaborative leadership abilities.
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Act as an ambassador of Astra with all colleagues, community providers and stakeholders, and community members.
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Complete at least two marketing outreach contacts per month.
- Serve as liaison between the Mobile Crisis Team and other Astra departments, ensuring efficient communication and coordination of services.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with community agencies, hospitals, and law enforcement partners.
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Participate in local and regional crisis system meetings, workgroups, and outreach initiatives.
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Communicate effectively with leadership regarding operational needs, staffing, and community trends impacting crisis response.
- Approach interactions with individuals served and colleagues with a trauma sensitive lens
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Acts as an ambassador of the agency in the community setting, which may include doing public educational and informational presentations.
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Support and actively promote the vision and mission of the agency and the philosophy of the strengths perspective
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Other duties as assigned, as qualified and trained for.
- Must be 18 years of age or older
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Peer positions require a high school diploma or GED, as well as relevant work or life experience with mental illness/addiction.
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Case Management positions require BA/BS degree in human services field or 4 years of education/experience in a human service field.
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Licensed Mental Health Professionals require a master’s degree or higher and an active license to practice in the state of Kansas.
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Must successfully pass Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), Central Registry, and all required
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background checks.
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Valid Kansas driver’s license, good driving record, current auto insurance, and reliable
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transportation required.
- Experience working through crises with adults with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) and/or youth with severe emotional disturbances (SED) preferred.
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Familiarity with trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and person-centered crisis services.
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Knowledge of CCBHC standards, KDADS regulations, and local crisis system protocols.
- Principles of crisis assessment, de-escalation, and stabilization.
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KDADS and CCBHC standards for mobile crisis response.
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Suicide prevention, safety planning, and risk management.
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Community behavioral health and emergency response systems.
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Medicaid documentation and confidentiality requirements.
- Strong leadership, coordination, and critical thinking skills.
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Effective communication with staff, individuals served, and community partners.
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Ability to multitask and make sound decisions under pressure.
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Proficiency with electronic health records and documentation systems.
- Model Astra’s trauma-informed, person-centered, and recovery-oriented values in all interactions.
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Build positive, collaborative relationships with community partners and multidisciplinary teams.
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Maintain composure and professionalism during high-stress events.
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Promote teamwork, resilience, and accountability among staff.
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Demonstrate flexibility in a fast-paced, 24/7 operational environment.
Other Physical Requirements:
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Ability to drive to and from community locations in varied weather and environmental conditions.
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Ability to sit, stand, and move about for extended periods during response activities.
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Visual and auditory acuity sufficient for supervision and safety monitoring.
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Occasional lifting of up to 25 lbs (equipment or materials).
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Tolerance for unpredictable environments and high-intensity situations.
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Position may require the ability to use physical intervention through therapeutic holds from MAB training.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This position operates primarily in community-based settings as part of Astra’s Mobile Crisis Response Program, with additional time in Astra’s Crisis Services office for supervision and coordination. The work environment is dynamic and mission-driven, requiring adaptability, empathy, and sound decision-making.
The Mobile Crisis Responder models Astra’s trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and recovery- oriented leadership approach, ensuring that every mobile crisis response supports safety, dignity, and stabilization for individuals served.
Astra Mental Health and Recovery is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and for religious practices, in accordance with applicable law and guidance issued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Astra does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This commitment applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, training, corrective action, and termination.
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