H21 - Building a Rural Crisis Continuum: 24/7 Mental Health Urgent Care, Mobile Crisis and 988 Integration

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM MDT

Location: Bluebird 3G

Unrestricted Education Sponsor

This session shares stories, strategies, and lessons learned to overcome funding and workforce barriers in launching and operating Mobile Crisis Teams, inspiring attendees to design sustainable, equitable crisis response systems in rural settings. You'll hear from LifeHouse Carlsbad, a CCBHC in New Mexico, about their experiences with actionable takeaways for attendees.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the essential components of a comprehensive rural crisis response system, including 24/7 crisis receiving and stabilization, mobile crisis deployment, and partnership with 988.
Analyze and evaluate strategies used to overcome systemic barriers such as workforce shortages, funding limitations, and geographic isolation when developing or expanding crisis services in rural and underserved areas.
Apply implementation and operational lessons learned to launch crisis services in their own communities.

Disclosure(s):

Kelsey Stavseth, MBA: No financial relationships to disclose

Gillian MacDonald, MSW / QMHP: No financial relationships to disclose

Jess Spohn, DSW, LCSW, LADAC: No financial relationships to disclose

Selina Platte, PhD, LPCC: No financial relationships to disclose

Breakout Presenter(s)

Jess Spohn, DSW, LCSW, LADAC

Director of Crisis Services
LifeHouse, Inc.
Carlsbad, New Mexico

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Slides
Selina Platte, PhD, LPCC

Clinical Director
Carlsbad LifeHouse
Carlsbad, New Mexico

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Slides