Maryland Crisis Response & Stabilization Training

Maryland Crisis Response & Stabilization Training Center (M-CRS)

Maryland Crisis Response & Stabilization Training Center logo with two hands holding each other to form a heart, symbolizing connection and support

Welcome!
We are excited to announce a new training and technical assistance center dedicated to supporting Maryland behavioral health crisis providers.

The Maryland Crisis Response & Stabilization Training Center (M-CRS) is funded by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to help providers plan, implement, and enhance Mobile Crisis Teams (MCT) and Behavioral Health Crisis Stabilization Centers (BHCSC) services. The State contracted with the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS) to deliver required trainings for MCT and BHCSC staff. M-CRS will offer a series of five trainings as well as Community of Practice sessions and technical assistance. Trainings will be virtual and live and available on the website for archival viewing. Continuing Education Hours are available.

**M-CRS is not a direct service provider and does not provide any type of crisis response. Our standard operating hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 6:00PM EST.

If you are experiencing an immediate medical emergency, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. If you are looking for support and resources for mental health or substance use, call 988.

We Invite You to Participate

  • Virtual Live Trainings
  • Peer-to-peer Learning Sessions
  • Technical Assistance

The Maryland Crisis Response & Stabilization Training Center (M-CRS) is pleased to offer a series of trainings and Communities of Practice sessions. We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!

Required Trainings

All MCT and BHCSC staff are required to take the following trainings, according to Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 10.63.03.20 and 10.63.03.21 and federal Medicaid reimbursement requirements. This includes all members of licensed mobile crisis team (MCT) and BHCSC providers who work directly with individuals, including but not limited to clinicians, supervisors, and Peer Specialists. Other crisis providers, including non-licensed mobile crisis response and stabilization providers (including co-response with law enforcement) and urgent care providers, are welcome to take the trainings.

  • Crisis Intervention and De-escalation Strategies
  • Harm Reduction for Substance Use and Non-Suicidal Self Injurious Behavior
  • Connecting with People in Crisis Through a Trauma-Informed Lens
  • Supporting Marylanders Living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Acquired Brain Injury
  • Crisis Services Safety

Communities of Practice (CoPs) and Open Office Hours

Each training will be paired with a 60-minute CoP. The CoPs provide a space for facilitated discussions on challenges, best practices, and innovations through peer-led learning. CoPs will be facilitated by the trainers from the related training to deepen learning and lead discussions. M-CRS Training and Technical Assistance Specialists will be available for an additional 30 minutes following the CoPs for discussions of implementation challenges and other provider questions. This 30-minute Open Office Hours is designed to provide mobile crisis service providers access to expert guidance peer learning.

Upcoming Trainings

  • Please check back soon for more upcoming training events.

Upcoming Community of Practice Sessions and Office Hours

  • Please check back soon for more upcoming Community of Practice and Office Hours events.

Archived Trainings

All online training sessions are recorded and posted on the website for staff who missed the live session and/or who would like to rewatch them on their own time. These recordings are 508-compliant and include closed-captioning.

Archived trainings are housed on a learning management system (LMS). To view a training, set up a free account on the LMS. Once your account is created, log on to view training videos, request certificates of completion and continuing education hours. This account will serve as your portal to all future courses using the same login and password.

Access Archived Trainings Now

Crisis Intervention and De-escalation Strategies

Friday, March 21st 9:30AM – 12:30PM EST

Harm Reduction for Substance Use and Non-Suicidal Self Injurious Behavior

Friday, April 25th 9:30AM – 12:30PM EST

Connecting with People in Crisis Through a Trauma-Informed Lens

Friday, May 16th 9:30AM – 12:30PM EST

Supporting Marylanders Living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Acquired Brain Injury

Friday, June 13th 9:30AM – 12:00PM EST

Newly Added Crisis Services Safety

Friday, September 19th 9:30AM – 12:00PM EST

  • When registering, you will be prompted to identify whether you are in California or Maryland – select your county from the dropdown menu.
  • Once you have created an account, you will receive an email to confirm your account. Follow the instructions in that email.
  • You will be taken to the homepage, where you will see a description of the Maryland Crisis Response and Stabilization Technical Assistance Center. This description will include a link to the project catalog “using this link.”
  • Click on that link, and you will be directed to the catalog. Look for any of the Maryland Crisis Response & Stabilization Training Center courses, as listed on the M-CRS website. Hover over the course and click to open, then click the “Register Now” button to be directed to a page with the training video and other resources.

Resource List: Supporting Marylanders Living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Acquired Brain Injury

Download Resource List

The Maryland Crisis Response & Stabilization Training Center (M-CRS) offers individual coaching, consultation, and training to mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services across Maryland. Request support by clicking on and submitting this request form. A member of the M-CRS team will contact you to discuss your request.

**M-CRS is not a direct service provider and does not provide any type of crisis response. Our standard operating hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 6:00PM EST.

If you are experiencing an immediate medical emergency, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. If you are looking for support and resources for mental health or substance use, call 988.

Access TTA Request Form

The Maryland Crisis Response & Stabilization Training Center (M-CRS) is funded by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). This project is led by the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS).

Miranda March, PhD
Project Director

Training and Technical Assistance Team

Danielle Raghib, LCSW
Ms. Raghib is a Crisis Care Training and Technical Assistance Specialist with the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS). Her clinical experience includes working in outpatient crisis stabilization programs, school-based mental health services, and as a mobile crisis responder for children, youth, and adolescents in California. As an expert in behavioral health crisis services, she currently provides subject matter expertise to two statewide initiatives that focus on implementing and improving mobile crisis response services in California.

David Eric Lopez, MACP
Mr. Lopez is a Crisis Care Training and Technical Assistance Specialist at the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS) and previously was a program manager with Kings View’s Central Valley Suicide Prevention Hotline. David currently supports two statewide mobile crisis initiatives in and serves as a subject matter expert on a new statewide suicide prevention initiative in California. David has extensive crisis care experience, which includes working in an inpatient crisis stabilization unit, as a therapist for foster youth, and as a field clinician, responding with law enforcement to mental health crisis calls in the community. Additionally, David serves on Fresno County’s Suicide Prevention Collaborative steering committee. He is currently a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) completing his dissertation on suicidal ideation and attempts in individuals who experience traumatic brain injury. Additional research interests include furthering the mind body approach to treating mental illnesses and sports psychology.

Erin Zamora, LMFT, LPCC
Ms. Zamora is a training and Technical Assistance Specialist with the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS). Erin has 15-years of experience in mobile crisis response and management and has made significant contributions to the behavioral health crisis response landscape in California. As a program manager for San Bernardino County Behavioral Health Department in California, she played a pivotal role in creating a 24/7 crisis phone line, ensuring that individuals in distress have access to immediate support around the clock. Erin’s leadership extends to disaster response, where she has been instrumental in supporting the community’s behavioral health needs immediately following natural disasters and critical incidents. Her leadership is characterized by a commitment to training and development, which is further exemplified by her role as a POST-certified instructor, training with a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program in California.

Guest Faculty Team

Eve Fitch, LISW-S, MSW

Kristin Dempsey, EdD, LPCC, LMFT

Management Team

Ingrid Severson
Project Manager

Joanne Bloom
Distance Learning Manager

Matt Eich
Web Developer

Please contact our team via phone at +1 (888) 620 5009 or email us at marylandcrisistraining@cars-rp.org

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We’re here to help Maryland providers and jurisdictions plan, implement, and expand mobile crisis services.