Community Stabilization Services

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Community Stabilization services are short-term and designed to support an individual and their natural support system following contact with an initial crisis response service or as a diversion to a higher level of care. Providers deliver community stabilization services in an individual’s natural environment and provide referral and linkage to other community-based services at the appropriate level of care. Interventions may include brief therapeutic and skill building interventions, engagement of natural supports, interventions to integrate natural supports in the de-escalation and stabilization of the crisis, and coordination of follow-up services. Coordination of specialized services to address the needs of co-occurring intellectual/developmental disabilities and substance use are also available through this service. Services should involve advocacy and networking to provide linkages and referrals to appropriate community-based services and assisting the individual and their family or caregiver in accessing other benefits or assistance programs for which they may be eligible.  The goal of Community Stabilization services is to stabilize the individual within their community and support the individual and/or support system during the periods 1) between an initial Mobile Crisis Response and entry in to an established follow-up service at the appropriate level of care 2) as a transitional step-down from a higher level of care if the next level of care service is identified but not immediately available for access or 3) as a diversion to a higher level of care. 

Individuals must meet all of the following criteria: 

1. The individual has experienced a recent behavioral health crisis (within 72 hours of admission) or the individual is transitioning from or at risk of a higher level of care and requires short-term support with identifying and engaging in the services necessary to maintain safety and stability in the community; 
2.  Documentation indicates evidence that the individual meets criteria for a primary diagnosis consistent with the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual; 
3. There is evidence from the individual or collateral contact indicating at least one of the following is present: 
   1. High potential for crisis-cycling without this support; 
   2. Individual does not have the ability and/or the resources to support maintenance of safety and/or stability in the community until longer term services are available/accessible; 
   3. Individual has been engaged in alternative crisis services or treatment and no longer meets criteria for those services but continues to require community stabilization support; 
4. The individual currently has moderate to high intensity behavioral and/or emotional needs and without intervention, will further interfere with their ability to function in at least one life domain: family, living situation, school, social, work or community.