Harris Center Programs
The Harris Center is the local mental health authority working in close collaboration with the Houston Police Department. Many of their programs work directly with our Mental Health Division; however, some Harris Center programs offer crisis services to the community without the direct involvement of our division.
Their teams of highly trained behavioral health professionals work in a variety of clinical and community settings with individuals who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis. By providing accessible, prompt, high-quality assessments, and the opportunity for effective stabilization and treatment, they ensure de-escalation of the current crisis to restore functioning in the least restrictive environment.
Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT)
Mission
The Mobile Crisis Outreach Team’s (MCOT) mission is to provide rapid community-based crisis response and assessment to establish safety and provide interventions, skills training, and resources to restore balance, promote self-efficacy and increase support systems.
Program Description
MCOT is comprised of a multidisciplinary team providing mobile community-based rapid emergency care services, urgent care assessment, and continuity of care for all children, adolescents, and adults who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis regardless of residency status, diagnosis, veteran status, or ability to pay. All crisis continuum services are person-centered, family-focused, intensive, and time-limited. MCOT uses the most effective and least restrictive approaches and interventions until the crisis is resolved or the individual is placed in a clinically appropriate environment.
The multidisciplinary team is comprised of a medical director/psychiatrist, a program director, 3 clinical team leads, a team lead, a nurse, 12 LPHAs, 7 master’s level clinicians, 12 QMHPs, 8 psychiatric technicians, and 2 peer support specialists.
Hours of Operation
MCOT is available 24 hours per day, every day of the year through a combination of on-duty and on-call coverage. There is, at minimum, one LPHA and one QMHP on duty 12 hours a day, every day of the week.
Making a Referral to MCOT
If you or someone you know is experiencing a behavioral health crisis, please contact The Harris Center Crisis Line. Crisis Line Specialists will determine if an MCOT referral can benefit you. Call 713.970.7000 and press #1 for the Crisis Line.
Mobile Crisis Outreach Team Rapid Response (MCOT RR)
Overview
In collaboration with the Houston Police Department (HPD) and The Harris Center Crisis Call Diversion (CCD) a specialized unit, Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT) Rapid Response, serves as a fourth option for dispatch and first-line response for all callers to 911 and the Houston Police Department (HPD) non-emergency line, that are non-imminent and non-criminal. MCOT Rapid Response teams are comprised of Licensed/Master Level Clinicians and a Bachelor Level Clinician
Goal
The goal of the program is to eliminate the automatic response of fire, EMS, or law enforcement when someone contacts 911 in need of behavioral health assistance.
Exclusionary Criteria
Every effort is made to avoid unnecessary emergency response under best practices; however, MCOT Rapid Response activation may not be appropriate under the following situations:
- Individuals who are presenting as aggressive/violent, posing a risk to staff safety.
- Those in possession of firearms or weapons who are unable/unwilling to safety plan to limit access.
- Individuals presenting an imminent risk of harm to self or others requiring emergency intervention.
What to Expect
Clinicians will be dispatched by CCD and upon arrival on the scene will engage with the individual, assess for safety, and complete a crisis assessment.
If it is determined that a higher level of response is required to ensure safety, the MCOT Rapid Response team will transport a voluntary individual to a psychiatric hospital and provide post hospitalization follow-up upon discharge, and can provide referrals or help with linkage to long-term behavioral health services when needed.
For more about The Harris Center's Crisis Services:
