FORT SMITH, Ark. — Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas Department of Human Services announced Tuesday a plan to invest $30 million to improve mental health and substance use services across the state through a statewide coordinated crisis response system.
The statewide crisis response system will have a 24-hour call center that will allow first responders to connect individuals in crisis with the help they need. It will also include a creation of mobile crisis teams, new training for EMT, police, and other first responders on telehealth and patient evaluation.
“The mental health and substance abuse crises in this country are layered. If we’re going to tackle them, our efforts will have to be layered too,” Governor Sanders said. “I’m proud to announce Arkansas’ plan to address these issues head-on, including a statewide coordinated crisis response system. This will help us fill the gaps in our current efforts and ensure struggling Arkansans get the help they need."
“It’s critical that resources are available to support Arkansans who are struggling with substance use disorders or mental illness, especially in times of crisis,” Arkansas Department of Human Services Secretary Kristi Putnam said. “This plan invests in areas that can help prevent situations from escalating to crisis level, and also builds more of a continuum of care where we currently have gaps in support.
"We are grateful for the priority Gov. Sanders and the Legislature have placed on this need and look forward to engaging community partners and stakeholders as we deploy these funds," Putnam added.
Local crisis response teams said this could impact their ability to serve more people. The Fort Smith Crisis Intervention Unit is a first of its kind program in the state that specializes in mental health.
"A lot of times people think a crime is being committed because someone's maybe under the influence of drugs or something. But a lot of times, it's just because they're suffering from some type of mental issue," Officer Michael Shew with the Crisis Intervention Unit said.
"We go through all the reports that the officers on the street have taken for the last typically 24 hours. We look at check the welfare calls, suicide threats, drug overdoses, just a multitude of call tops," Officer Cheri Taylor with the Crisis Intervention Unit said. "We try to get people into services, whether it be therapy or rehabilitation, anything like that, we just reach out and tell them that we're here and we have services available to help them."
Since 2020, the unit has responded to almost 2,000 calls and had almost 800 voluntary referrals for people to get the help they need.
"It doesn't cost you a dime, it's already funded. It's 72 hours that you get to speak to a therapist, and you leave there with medication if you need it," Taylor said. "Everybody wants everybody to do better. Everybody cares for the citizens of Fort Smith. And we're just very thankful we got such a great group of organizations to work with."
The Guidance Center operates the Crisis Stabilization Unit for Sebastian County. It's one of four in the state that provide immediate, 24/7 care to people experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis.
"Mental health doesn't it's not selective to a certain socio-economic level. So, everybody is impacted by behavioral health issues. And that's why being able to respond to crisis especially, is so important," Rusti Horwick, CEO of The Guidance Center, said.
Horwick says this money could impact her organization and their efforts to modernize, as they could see a call and receiving center as a resource they need.
"It's rare to find things in funding that support really some of the infrastructure needs. And so, the idea of modernization for the crisis system, and, and being able to have funding for the infrastructure is really, really important, you know, as an availability for providers," Horwick said. "We're just so appreciative of a governor on this legislative body for recognizing the behavioral health needs in Arkansas. We're so excited to have the opportunities and we want to work hand in hand with them for ideas."
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