Integral Care to open new mobile behavioral health van for Travis County residents

Integral Care is preparing to launch its third mobile van to bring behavioral health care services closer to Travis County residents.

At a Feb. 3 meeting, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved $337,497 in funding to cover startup costs for the new van, which is expected to begin operating in June.

The big picture

Integral Care’s mobile behavioral health vans allow the Travis County mental health authority to improve access to care for people who may be least likely to reach traditional clinics, said Marisa A. Malik, director of practice management crisis and SA and 189 crisis authority admin, in an email. This includes people experiencing homelessness or those recently discharged from jail, shelters, hospitals or crisis facilities.

Patients may be referred to the program through first responders, emergency departments, Travis County jail personnel and The Sobering Center—a safe space for people to recover from intoxication instead of going to jail or the emergency room. Additionally, the new mobile clinic will help Integral Care respond to disaster situations.

Staff working in the van will go directly to people who cannot access Integral Care clinics, Malik said.

The details

The new mobile van will be staffed with mental health professionals who have specialized training in de-escalation, crisis intervention, behavioral health assessment, medication management, telehealth services and disaster response deployments, Malik said.

Patients may receive the following services at the mobile clinic, according to Travis County information:

• On-site intake, case management and skills training
• Psychiatric evaluations
• Medication management
• Facilitated access to prescribed medication
• Crisis intervention
• Substance use assessments

After providing crisis stabilization care to patients, Integral Care may:

• Refer patients to Integral Care's crisis stabilization facilities or other programs
• Link patients to ongoing behavioral health treatment
• Connect patients to additional community resources, including food pantries, clinics and primary care physicians