Crisis Services: Information for Providers
This page provides information for professionals who support people experiencing a mental health emergency.
Crisis Intervention Network virtual meetings
All professionals who respond to mental health crisis situations are invited to participate in monthly virtual meetings with staff from the Division of Care and Treatment Services, Division of Medicaid Services, and Division of Quality Assurance.
Join our Crisis Intervention Network email list to receive information about these meetings.
Administrative code
Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 34 - Emergency Mental Health Service Programs
Core competencies
Crisis Care Workers Core Competencies
Crisis care workers can use the information in this guide to assess their own performance and set action plans for professional development.
Crisis Care Supervisors Core Competencies
Crisis care supervisors can use the information in this guide to promote worker satisfaction and confidence, support workforce retention, and ensure effective service delivery.
Medicaid updates
The Wisconsin Medicaid crisis intervention services benefit has added an option for teaming. The billing codes and modifiers have been updated for all crisis services. Watch a webinar that explains all of the updates. If you have questions about these updates, contact: dhsmedicaidcrisis@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
ForwardHealth Update 2023-06 (PDF) covers information on the expanded mobile crisis benefit and changes to crisis intervention services claim submission.
Program certification
Policy documents, reports, research papers, and toolkits
2022 Crisis Services Programs Survey Report (PDF)
This report was published in 2024. It provides an overview of the data collected in 2022 from county crisis services programs to better understand the landscape of crisis services across Wisconsin.
Crisis Now: Transforming Services is Within Our Reach (PDF)
This report from the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention provides a road map for change in crisis services.
Crisis Now Library
This library is a collection of reports, research papers, and technical assistance documents related to improving crisis services.
Crisis Services and Emergency Detentions Statewide, 2013-2021, P-02517 (PDF)
This report was published in 2024. It examines statewide trends in youth and adult involuntary emergency civil detentions psychiatric hospitalizations and the provision of emergency mental health service programs.
Crisis Services: Effectiveness, Cost Effectiveness, and Funding Strategies (PDF)
This report summarizes the evidence base on the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different types of crisis services, and then presents case studies of different approaches that states are using to coordinate, consolidate, and blend fund sources in order to provide robust crisis services.
Collaborative Approaches to Responding to Behavioral Health Emergencies (PDF)
This policy paper reviews best practices for law enforcement crisis response, outlines the components of a comprehensive continuum of crisis care that provides alternatives to law enforcement involvement and emergency detention utilization, and provides strategies for collaboration and alignment towards common goals.
National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care: Best Practice Toolkit
This document provides a framework for transforming crisis care systems in communities throughout the United States with the goal of saving lives by helping anyone experiencing a crisis anytime, anywhere.
National Guidelines for Child and Youth Behavioral Health Crisis Care (PDF)
This document offers best practices, implementation strategies, and practical guidance for the design and development of services that meet the needs of children, youth, and their families experiencing a crisis.
Peers in Crisis Services: Results of a 2023 State Survey (PDF)
This report was published in 2024. It highlights data on the peer community, peer support in Wisconsin, and peer perspectives and experiences related to working in services for people experiencing mental health and substance use emergencies.
Peers Support Services in Crisis Care (PDF)
This document discusses the role of peer support workers and models of peer support services that are available to assist individuals who are experiencing a crisis.
Training opportunities
- Behavioral Health Training Partnership at UW-Green Bay
- Person-Centered Planning
- Wisconsin Public Psychiatry Network Teleconference
Training and technical assistance contacts
- Operational goals for crisis services transformation: brianne.zaborowske@dhs.wisconsin.gov
- Crisis call services: caroline.crehanneumann@dhs.wisconsin.gov
- Mobile crisis response and crisis stabilization services: jenna.suleski@dhs.wisconsin.gov
- Youth crisis services: elizabeth.rudy@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Wisconsin Psychiatric Bed Tracker
The Wisconsin Psychiatric Bed Locator Tool assists hospital emergency room staff and county staff responsible for approval of emergency detentions locate potential availability of psychiatric beds for the purpose of referring patients for care. Only registered users can use this tool. Learn more about the Wisconsin Psychiatric Bed Tracker.