Miller Brown & Diamond Martin
Do you know how to contact a local, specialized crisis response team if a family member or friend needed help? Mobile Outreach, Response, Engagement and Stabilization (MORES) is a crisis lifeline system and part of Mobile Crisis. MORES “is a team-based crisis response intervention for children and adolescents ages 3-21 years experiencing escalating emotional and/or behavioral needs (NCDHHS- MORES brochure).” This MORES pilot is local to North Carolina, but many college students and community members are not familiar with the organization and the resources available to them. This is an important program that helps young children to adults struggling with mental and/or behavioral health crises,’ providing them with vital help, information, and steps to safety.
Gayle Rose, the Program Manager of the NC Enhanced Mobile Crisis Pilot Program within the UNCG Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships is working hard to expand access to this essential program throughout the state. Currently only available in 8 of the 100 North Carolina counties, the MORES pilot group is working to expand into more counties, including Guilford County, as it has not yet expanded here. Their goals include “Supporting and maintaining youth in their homes and communities and promoting safe behavior in youth (NCDHHS- MORES brochure).” Some of the outcomes of this program include increased family/caregiver advocacy and support, reduction in dangerous behaviors, and increased access to their behavioral health services.
MORES is not known in Greensboro and Guilford County, as it does not yet exist here. Mobile Crisis services themselves are not widely known, but the MORES pilot is looking to continue to spread the word. Spreading the word and information about this crucial and lifesaving resource is one of the biggest goals of MORES, helping to ensure as many people as possible know that this is available to them. Being able to bring this program into Guilford County, as well as all NC counties, will help provide even more immediate support to our local community. Every child and student should have access to MORES and mental and behavioral health crisis help.
THE CAROLINIAN 