Transforming Behavioral Health Crisis Response Services
The Greater Baltimore Regional Integrated Crisis System (GBRICS) Partnership will invest $45 million over five years to transform behavioral health crisis response services in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County and Howard County. GBRICS will expand the capacity of mobile crisis teams and community-based providers to reduce police interaction and overreliance on emergency departments.
Overall Goal: Reduce unnecessary Emergency Department use and police interaction for people in behavioral health crisis
Create one regional hotline connected to a comprehensive call center that will use specialized technology to quickly and effectively help callers access the immediate support they need.
Expand capacity of mobile crisis teams (non-law enforcement) so they are available 24/7 across the region.
Expand same day virtual and walk in services to immediately address the needs of people in crisis.
Work with communities to increase awareness and utilization of the hotline and new services.
GBRICS Region
Who developed GBRICS?
The GBRICS Partnership was developed by a broad coalition of 17 hospitals, four local behavioral health authorities, and many behavioral health experts and community leaders across the four local jurisdictions. Here is the full list of GBRICS Partners (Click to open PDF document)
Initial investment of funding for GBRICS was made available by the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission Regional Partnership Catalyst Grant Program. To see the full list of collaborators, see the full GBRICS Partnership Proposal.
Community Engagement
The Greater Baltimore Regional Integrated Crisis System (GBRICS) Partnership committed early on to meaningful community engagement to help inform system change and the design of Partnership-funded services. As a part of this commitment, the Community Engagement Committee (CEC) and Local Community Engagement (CE) Subcommittee carried out an online survey and roundtables from July 2021 to March 2022.
Results, themes and next steps influenced by more than 500 residents of the Greater Baltimore Region have been compiled into the 2021-22 Community Engagement Report.
GBRICS Council
The GBRICS Council guides the overall strategy, implementation and sustainability of GBRICS initiatives. The Council has 21 seats, intentionally structured to include key partners.
Council Meetings
GBRICS Council meets quarterly. Anyone is welcome to attend the meetings.
2022 Meetings:
- September 12, 5:00 p.m.
- December 12, 5:00 p.m.
Past Meetings:
- January 10, 2022 (Access Passcode: iN7YHx&#)
- September 13, 2021
- May 10, 2021
- March 8, 2021
- February 16, 2021
GBRICS in the News
- Baltimore Region Changing How to Intervene in Behavioral Health Crises (Baltimore Sun)
- The Health Philanthropy That Set About to Change Behavioral Health Crisis Care in Maryland (Crisis Talk)
- County Leaders Hail $45 Million Behavioral Health Grant as ‘a Game-Changer’ (Maryland Matters)
- Baltimore metro region receives $45 million in funding to improve crisis response services (Baltimore Sun)
- View the GBRICS Partnership Announcement Press Release
Resources
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- GBRICS One Pager
- GBRICS Vision and Guiding Principles (Click to open PDF document)
- GBRICS Community Engagement Principles (Click to open PDF document)
- GBRICS Region Crisis System Scan (Click to open PDF document)
- GBRICS Orientation Meeting (Recorded)
- GBRICS Community Engagement: Interim Report On Insights from Community Roundtables
- GBRICS Crisis Systems Standard
- Promoting 988 in Greater Baltimore – Resident Interview Findings
- Roadmap to the Ideal Crisis System – National Council for Behavioral Health
- Crisis Now Model
- Crisis System Infographic
- SAMHSA National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care Best Practice Toolkit (Click to open PDF document)
- Crisis Talk Blog (Click to open PDF document)