Behavorial Health Initiative Action Team
Action Team Goal
The Strengthen Crisis Services and Supports Action Team is working to expand the crisis services continuum and strengthen the behavioral health services network in the region.
Targeted Problem
The number of children and adults experiencing behavioral health crises in the region is growing. Yet, there are not enough crisis services, beds and other treatment options in the region to treat those experiencing a behavioral health crises.
Our Collective Work
To address this problem, the Strengthen Crisis Services and Supports Action Team has supported the development of the Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center and is working to improve the behavioral health system by developing a Regional Behavioral Health Directory, a Shared Set of Behavioral Health System Outcomes, and protocols and processes to enhance coordination of care. See below for the resources and tools developed by this team.
Supporting the Development of the Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis and Access Center
The Strengthen Crisis Services and Supports Action Team received funding from the Huckle Family Foundation and Rotary Charities to support the development of a Business and Operations Plan for a crisis center in Traverse City. This plan was instrumental in supporting the submission of the initial ARPA grant to Grand Traverse County to fund the construction of the center. Munson Healthcare and Northern Lakes CMH were awarded this grant. The Action Team formed a Community Advisory Group (CAG) to provide community input to agency leaders – The Leadership Group – heading the development of the center. The crisis center will be open early 2025.
Improving the Behavioral Health System
The Community Advisory Group is also exploring ways to strengthen the coordination of care across agencies around the region. In collaboration with NAMI Grand Traverse and the United Way, and with funding from Rotary Charities, they are currently developing a Regional Behavioral Health Directory, a Shared Set of Behavioral Health Outcomes, and protocols and processes to improve service coordination.
Action Team Members
Since 2021, 64 stakeholders in the Northwest MI region have been engaged in the work of this Action Team and the development of the crisis center.
Leadership Group
- Nate Alger – Grand Traverse County Administrator
- Chris Archangeli – Munson Healthcare
- Paula Colombo – NLCMH
- Michael Corby – NLCMH
- Curt Cummins – NMRE & NLCMH
- Laura Glenn – Munson Healthcare
- Seth Johnson – United Way of NWMI
- Eric Kurtz – NMRE
- Terri Lacroix-Kelty – Munson Healthcare
- Emily Llore – Northwest CHIR
- Brian Martinez – NLCMH
- Nancy Stevenson – NLCMH
- Dan Thorell – Benzie-Leelanau DHD
Community Advisory Group
- Gina Aranki – Child and Family Services of Northwest Michigan
- Elizabeth Carillo – Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center
- Cameron Clark – Leelanau County Government
- Suzy Cline – GTCDFC & Families Against Narcotics
- Luke Crimmins – Certified Healthcare Finance
- Kate Dahlstrom – NAMI, BDAI, NLCMH
- Christine Gebhard – NMRE
- Tom Gilbert – Community Advocate
- Heidi Gustine – Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan
- Ryan Hannon – Central United Methodist Church
- Seth Johnson – United Way of Northwest Michigan
- Marian Kromkowski – Leelanau Probate/Family Court
- Mike Lahey – Grand Traverse County HD
- Barb LaRue – Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, & Leelanau MDHHS
- Dave Mengebier – Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation
- Donna Miller – Parent & Community Advocate
- Penny Morris – Grand Traverse County Commissioner
- Sarah Olree – Northwest Education Services
- Jessie Perez – Self-Employed Social Worker
- Lauren Reed – Grand Traverse County Drug Free Coalition
- Kathy Sanders – BDAI
- Mike Shea – Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Department
- Linda Solem – Up North Prevention, Catholic Human Services
- Toni Stanfield – BDAI
- Sakura Takano – Rotary Charities
- Kristine Wilmoth – Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Initial Crisis Services & Supports Action Team Members:
- Gina Aranki – Child and Family Services of Northwest Michigan
- Judy Barrett – NAMI
- Rebecca Binder – Northwest Michigan Supportive Housing
- Joanie Blamer – NLCMHA
- Freya Bradford – Rotary Charities of Traverse City
- Elizabeth Carrillo – Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center
- Amy Christie – North Country Community Mental Health
- Cameron Clark – Leelanau County Government
- Suzy Cline – GTCDFC & Families Against Narcotics
- Rick Coates – National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI Grand Traverse
- Luke Crimmins – Certified Healthcare Finance
- Kate Dahlstrom – NAMI, BDAI, NLCMH
- Katy Fisher – Disability Network Northern MI
- Brendan Franklin – Munson Healthcare
- Deb Freed – Northern Lakes & North Country CMH
- Christine Gebhard – NMRE
- Tom Gilbert – Community Advocate
- Myranda Green – TBD Solutions
- Heidi Gustine – Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan
- Ryan Hannon – Goodwill of Northern Michigan
- Chris Hindbaugh – Addiction Treatment Services
- Sarah Hubbell – Leelanau County Family Court
- Seth Johnson – United Way of Northwest MI
- Stacey Kaminski – Northern Lakes Community Mental Health
- Marian Kromkowski – Leelanau Probate/Family Court
- Terri Lacroix-Kelty – Munson Medical Center
- Mike Lahey – Grand Traverse County HD
- Barb LaRue – Grand Traverse/Leelanau/Kalkaska Counties
- Paula Lipinski – Addiction Treatment Services
- Mary Marois
- Karla Matchinski – North Country Community Mental Health
- Ranae McCauley – M103 Representative Betsy Coffia
- Dave Mengebier – Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation
- Meg Mertaugh-Graber – Care-O-Van
- Donna Miller – Individual with Lived Experience
- Penny Morris – Grand Traverse County Commissioner
- Sarah Olree – Northwest Education Services
- Jessica Perez – Self-Employed Social Worker
- Erica Philips – Munson Healthcare
- Lauren Reed – Grand Traverse County Drug Free Coalition
- Kathy Sanders – BDAI
- Mike Shea – Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Department
- Sherise Shively – 13th Circuit Court Community Corrections
- Paula Smith – Child and Family Services of Northwest Michigan
- Linda Solem – Up North Prevention, Catholic Human Services
- Katelyn Spicer – Mesick Consolidated Schools
- Toni Stanfield – BDAI
- Nancy Stevenson – Northern Lakes Community Mental Health
- Sakura Takano – Rotary Charities of Traverse City
- Jennifer Whitten
- Courtney Wiggins
- Kristine Wilmoth – Pine Rest
- Lauren Wolf – Benzie Lee Health Dept
- Amy Yee – BodyWorks
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUPPORT OUR WORK?
- Take the time to learn more about the crisis center and the services that will be offered there.
- Learn when to refer patients to the center.
- Share any recommendations you have about how to improve the crisis services continuum with the Community Advisory Group: [email protected].
