Project Grant H79SM091715

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Multnomah County $750,000 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to enhance mobile crisis team capacity and establish direct behavioral health response to 911 calls independent of law enforcement.

The Multnomah County Mobile Crisis Team Partnerships Enhancement Project will develop staffing capacity and partnership agreements enabling the county's behavioral health mobile crisis teams to respond directly to 911 crisis callers in Multnomah County, Oregon, without law enforcement involvement. Measurable objectives include convening key partners to create a mobile crisis team services implementation plan by January 31, 2027, and updating it annually, alongside hiring additional mobile crisis team and 911 behavioral health assessment staff and implementing continuous quality improvement activities. The initiative targets youth, veterans, and justice-involved individuals, who experience elevated rates of mental health and substance use issues, suicide, and overdose. The project aims to increase diversion from criminal justice involvement and reduce deaths from suicide and overdose by enabling law enforcement to cease responding to behavioral health crisis calls that mobile crisis teams can handle independently.

Performance of work occurs in Portland, Oregon 97233. The award period runs from September 30, 2026, through September 29, 2030. This is a project grant assistance type.