What Mobile Response and Stabilization Services Involves
Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) is a community-based intervention that provides immediate support to young people, aged 20 and under, who are experiencing mental, emotional or behavioral distress or any other traumatic circumstances that has impacted their ability to function within their family, school, or community.
Download PDF of MRSS Flyer (pictured left)
Ohio’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline seeks to serve as the “air traffic controller” for all things crisis in Ohio, connecting the community to whatever crisis support they need. 988 serves as the primary access point for MRSS.
MRSS Practice Standards
The Mobile Response and Stabilization Service (MRSS) Practice Manual is authorized by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health and serves as the basis for process improvement and expansion of MRSS to improve behavioral health services for the state’s young people. The intent of this manual is to establish expectations for operational components and to guide implementation, while allowing ample flexibility to accommodate county/regional needs and practice innovation.
Download Full PDF of Mobile Response and Stabilization Services Practice Standards 3.1 2026
Crisis Services White Paper Report from the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health
Across Ohio, people of all ages and their families are seeking care in record numbers for substance use disorder and mental health concerns. Frequently, these Ohioans are exhibiting severe symptoms, such as psychosis, suicidal ideation, agitation, aggression, and/ or are exhibiting symptoms of substance withdrawal or the toxic effects of substance misuse or abuse. In many communities, people rely on emergency departments that may lack the behavioral health resources to adequately assess, stabilize, and connect people to community services and supports.
Also, emergency departments may not have sufficient resources to provide an adequate response to a psychiatric behavioral health emergency, particularly when people experience prolonged wait times for an available psychiatric bed.
In the community, when a person is in crisis and suffering a behavioral health condition or other problem that affects the person’s emotional well-being and safety, law enforcement is often called to respond. The person in crisis may be arrested and jailed without access to the appropriate care. Jail is not the right place for people living with mental illness and their presence there creates difficulties for jail staff.
Download PDF of Report Here
An Inpatient Alternative | Mobile Crisis Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) 
Mobile Crisis Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) are one example of a cost-effective alternative to the use of EDs and inpatient treatment. MRSS provide mobile, on-site and rapid intervention for youth experiencing a behavioral health crisis, allowing for immediate de-escalation of the situation in the least restrictive setting possible; prevention of the condition from worsening; and the timely stabilization of the crisis.
VIEW PDF | Mobile Crisis Response Stabilization Services
The mobile crisis component of MRSS is designed to provide time-limited, on-demand crisis intervention services in any setting in which a behavioral health crisis is occurring, including homes, schools and EDs. Depending on the needs of the child, the stabilization component may include a temporary, out-of-home crisis resolution in a safe environment. A growing body of evidence points to MRSS as a cost-effective method for improving behavioral health outcomes; deterring ED and inpatient admissions; reducing out-of-home placements; reducing lengths of stay and the cost of inpatient hospitalizations; and improving access to behavioral health services. In addition, families often report greater satisfaction with MRSS when compared to the ED.
MRSSOhio.org is presented by The Center for Innovative Practices (CIP) and the
Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Center of Excellence (CABH COE)
Part of the Begun Center for Violence Prevention at Case Western Reserve University’s
Mandel School of Applied Social Services
Mailing Address: 10900 Euclid Avenue | Cleveland, OH 44106-7164
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