Brevard County Funds its First Mobile Crisis Unit

At its June 14th City Council meeting, the City of Melbourne approved an agreement that will implement a mobile crisis team for adults experiencing mental health crises. Melbourne is a city in Brevard County on the east coast of Florida. Brevard is the 10th most populous county in the state. Currently, in the event of a mental health crisis, law enforcement is depended on to provide mental health assessments and transportation to Baker Act receiving facilities. The mobile crisis unit, which currently exists in other areas of Florida, will have the goal of increasing public safety, allowing for a more immediate response for an individual in a mental health crisis to access mental health services, and divert individuals experiencing mental health crises from entering the criminal justice system and emergency departments. According to Melbourne City News, a secondary goal is to connect individuals with community resources and treatment services for adults who have mental health and/or substance use conditions who are at risk of entering the criminal justice system. 

Brevard County’s mobile crisis unit will be a partnership between Melbourne Police Department, Central Florida Cares Health System, and Brevard Family Partnership/Brevard C.A.R.E.S and will be funded by a 3-year Criminal Justice, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant Received from the Florida Department of Children and Families. 

Read more from the official Melbourne City site below:

https://www.melbourneflorida.org/Home/Components/News/News/8983/381