Service expansion

On May 1, 2019, with funding from Washtenaw County's Public Safety and Mental Health Preservation Millage, Washtenaw County Community Mental Health extended 24/7 mental health and substance use stabilization services and service-navigation assistance to all county residents who are unable to secure community-based mental health and substance use services, regardless of their insurance type, location, or ability to pay for services.

The WCCMH CARES team provides these services. Millage-funded team members include mental health professionals, peer support specialists, case managers, nurses, and psychiatrists. The goal of the CARES team is to provide short-term stabilization services who are unable to access mental health care in the community. 

Services provided by the CARES team include individual therapy, group therapy, peer support, psychiatry, nursing, and support navigating required services.  

“This is a significant expansion of WCCMH’s existing 24/7 mobile crisis response team” said Trish Cortes, executive director of WCCMH. “While our crisis team has served county residents for nearly a decade, we are excited to have the opportunity to provide not just crisis services but also stabilization services through our newly expanded CARES team."

The millage-funded CARES team is now the primary access point for a mental health or substance use crisis as well as for accessing any mental health or substance use treatment and support services to obtain assistance with unmet behavioral health needs. The goal: To provide the right service at the right time and the right location for all Washtenaw County residents, regardless of need, insurance type, or severity of illness. 

To access millage-funded services, call 1-800-544-3050 at any time of the day or night.