Empower Idaho Event: Mobile Crisis Services in Idaho: Someone to Respond
Presented by: Ellie Merrick, LCSW, Laura Treatm, LCPC & CPM, Tim Thompson, LCSW, and Rick Huber
Webinar Objectives:
- Review the history and science of the Mobile crisis Model
- Discuss how to know when to call a Mobile Crisis Team vs. 911
- Understand what to expect when calling for Mobile Crisis services
- Learn about an Idaho advocate and consumer’s experience with mental health crise
About the Presenters:
Ellie Merrick, LCSW, received her Bachelor’s degrees in English and Philosophy from Northwest Nazarene University in 1998. For the next seven years, she worked for several non-profit health advocacy and social justice organizations in Boise, Idaho. She obtained her Master’s degree in social work in 2007 and was a clinician and Designated Examiner for the Division of Behavioral Health (IDHW), working in both the Forensics and Mobile Crisis Units for 10 years. Ellie has been the Clinical Supervisor for the Region 4 Mobile Crisis Unit for the last 4 years and focuses on providing safe and accessible behavioral health crisis intervention to individuals and communities.
Tim Thompson, LCSW, is the Program Manager for IDHW’s Region 7 Division of Behavioral Health in Southeastern Idaho. Prior to this role, Tim worked for the past 13 years both as a clinician and the Clinical Supervisor of the Adult Mental Health Crisis Team. He serves as the chair of the Region 7 CIT Steering Committee and collaborates regularly with community providers and law enforcement to more effectively identify individuals in frequent crisis, decrease stigma surrounding getting help, and increase awareness of treatment and resources in the area.
Laura Treat, LCPC & CPM, is a licensed clinical professional counselor who’s been working in the mental health field for over 15 years. She currently works for the Department of Health and Welfare as a clinical supervisor for Adult Behavioral Health in Region 1. Over the past several years she has enjoyed working closely with community partners across the state to expand crisis services in Idaho.
Rick Huber is a person with lived experience of a psychiatric condition and has been an advocate for the past 25 years serving on numerous Boards and Councils, including the Idaho State Planning Council on Behavioral Health, the Idaho State Independent Living Council, and the Disability Rights Idaho Board of Directors. Rick has been involved with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, he was the Chairperson of the NAMI Peer Leadership Council for four years, and he was involved with the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illnesses grant (former Peer reviewer), which funds rights protection systems across the nation. Rick’s main focus is the decriminalization of mental health treatment.