Crisis Intervention Services

Sedgwick County > Human Services > COMCARE > Crisis Intervention Services

934 N. Water, Wichita, KS 67203
316-660-7525 – Administrative Office
316-660-7500 – 24-Hour Crisis Line
316-383-8040 (Fax) TTY 1-800-766-3777
Jason Scheck, LSCSW, Director
Contacts: Connie Gaston, LCP, Dayshift Manager
Tisha Darland, LMSW, After Hours Manager

Crisis Intervention Services

Crisis Intervention Services (CIS) provides mental health emergency services on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week, to all individuals in Sedgwick County. Nearly 58,000 calls were processed through the crisis lines in 2008. In addition to telephone intervention, CIS provides face-to-face crisis intervention services, including those facilitated by a mobile crisis unit. When a client comes to the CIS facility, clinical staff are available for intervention, treatment planning or a referral to another community resource. When appropriate, the client will see a medical provider to assess the need for medication. A number of other services are provided under the CIS umbrella, which play a crucial role in helping clients deal with their emergencies. These are described below in greater detail.

The CIS Staff: Crisis Intervention Services is staffed by 62 full-time and part-time mental health professionals and clerical staff employed by COMCARE of Sedgwick County. Many staff members are Qualified Mental Health Professionals possessing a master’s degree or PhD in Social Work, Clinical Psychology or Psychiatric Nursing, and are licensed with the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board. Other staff members have education, specific training and experience to provide telephone intervention and assessment services as well as case management services. A medical provider is available at CIS 45 hours a week. A security officer is on duty at the facility 24 hours a day.

Suicide Prevention Services: Crisis Intervention Services is the Suicide Prevention Service for Sedgwick County. Suicide was identified in 1998 by the U.S. Surgeon General as a serious national health concern. It is the 11th leading cause of death in Kansas. One of every six suicides in Kansas occurs in Sedgwick County. At CIS, priority is given to the assessment and intervention with callers who may be at risk for suicide. CIS is represented on the Sedgwick County Suicide Prevention Task Force and several staff at CIS participate in activities to increase public awareness of suicide and the availability of intervention services.

Stress/Trauma Assistance Team (STAT): The STAT team consists of mental health professionals who are trained to provide Critical Incident Stress Debriefings. A critical incident is any event that threatens a person’s sense of well-being and generates extraordinary levels of stress. Some examples include, but are not limited to, violence in the workplace, suicide, accidental or violent death, and natural disasters. When such events occur, a team of two or more mental health professionals go on site to lead the debriefing, and to help those affected to cope with and manage the acute levels of stress that may develop as a result of a traumatic event. STAT does not charge for this service, but does accept donations. A request for a debriefing can be made by calling CIS crisis line at 660-7500.

Mobile Crisis Unit (MCU): The Mobile Crisis Unit is comprised of two CIS staff – one master’s level therapist and one case manager. MCU hours of operation are from 8:00 am to midnight seven days a week including holidays. There is one Mobile Crisis Unit team available per shift. MCU services may be accessed through the Crisis Intervention Services emergency line (660-7500). The goal of MCU is to provide assessment and crisis intervention services to individuals at their home or other location when deemed appropriate for that level of service.

Transition Team: In August 2000, the crisis case management team known as the Transition Team was implemented. The team focuses on short-term services (several days up to three months in duration), with emphasis on intensive case management. The Transition Team works with specific situations where clients are in need of short-term crisis stabilization and follow-up. While the team focuses on these targeted cases, it also provides support to the overall Crisis Intervention Services program as needed. The Transition Team staff includes a Qualified Mental Health Professional who supervises the team, an Inpatient Coordinator, a Diversion Specialist, and case managers.

Community Assessment Program for Seniors (CAPS): This program is funded by mill levy funding through the Kansas Department on Aging, and serves seniors 60 years of age or older who are residents of Sedgwick County and are identified at risk for mental health issues. Referral to this program can come from anyone by calling 660-7500. In the CAPS program, therapists meet with individuals at their home for up to three visits at no charge to the elderly or their families. The CAPS therapist will assess, intervene or refer as appropriate should the client need further assistance. CAPS received national recognition in 2001 as an honorable mention for innovative behavioral health care programming through the Thomas Wernert award.

Medicaid Pre-Assessment: The Crisis Intervention Services staff is responsible for screening adults, children and adolescents who have or are eligible for Medicaid through SRS and are being considered for admission to a local inpatient psychiatric treatment facility. The pre-admission assessment is to determine the appropriateness and need for inpatient services and to explore other community alternatives if possible.

Pre-Admission Assessment for State Hospital: Crisis Intervention Services is the gatekeeper for the State Hospital at Osawatomie. Any individual within Sedgwick County, who is being referred for admission to a State Hospital, must be screened by staff from CIS to insure the appropriateness and need for state hospital services and to confirm that all local psychiatric services have been exhausted.

Pre-Petition Screening: Crisis Intervention Services works in conjunction with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office in the filing of mental petitions (petitions for involuntary treatment). Any individual wishing to file a mental petition without a statement from a physician recommending involuntary treatment will be directed to CIS for pre-petition screening prior to the filing of the actual petition. CIS staff will meet with the petitioner to insure that the situation meets the criteria for a mental petition and that all efforts have been exhausted to initiate assessment and treatment services at a voluntary level.

Language Line Service: The Language Line Service is an invaluable tool when someone who does not speak English calls the crisis line. When this is the case, the professional who takes the call can dial an 800 number to the Language Line Service and they can help determine the particular language and also provide an interpreter to see that the caller gets assistance.

Crisis Case Management: There are aspects of a person’s life that sometimes need attention in addition to specific mental health issues. The Crisis Case Manager can assist with locating and arranging resources (including food, clothing, transportation and shelter) within the community to address a variety of the client needs.

Crisis Brief Attendant Care (BAC): This program allows Crisis Intervention Services staff to involve employees within COMCARE to provide crisis attendant care services after hours during a critical time for COMCARE clients. BAC involves a one-on-one interaction with a client either in the home or elsewhere in the community to provide the necessary support in order for the client to function without needing more intensive services.

Crisis Plan: CIS developed a crisis plan in 2001 as directed by the State of Kansas. The plan involves input from the community and addressed twelve areas in which services will be enhanced or extended. It also allows for ongoing participation from the community in reviewing the plan through quarterly Crisis Coalition meetings.

COMCARE
of Sedgwick County
First Appointment – 316-660-7540
24-Hour Crisis Intervention Services – 316-660-7500

02/09