Group Home Mental Health Educational Guide

Safety/Crisis Planning

In a mental health crisis or emergency, emergency medical services (EMS) will ask for the individual’s face sheet, containing relevant information about the individual, as listed below.

• Individual Resident Face Sheet

  • Demographics
  • Emergency contacts
  • Medical and mental health diagnosis providers
  • Up-to-date medication list
  • Behavior plans
  • Legal status
    • Guardian, commitment, probation
    • Any rights restrictions in place
  • Information around what may and may not work in terms of de-escalation with that person
    • What helps calm the individual down?
    • Is there a PRN?
    • Are there activities or topics that help engage the individual?
  • Group house contact information
    • House number
    • House manager number

If you already have an existing face sheet for an individual, print it off and have it ready for EMS or other crisis response staff. 

Expectations in a Crisis

• Who Do I Call

  • If the situation is NOT life threatening emergency
    • If there are family members or other informal support systems that the individual has that can provide support, call them first.
    • Call the existing provider(s) if the person has existing mental health support. Call them (psychiatrist, clinic, therapist, case manager, family physician…) to see if they can provide support necessary to deescalate the situation.
    • Call the Mental Health Minnesota Warmline (651-288-0400) if the person is not in an acute crisis and they do not have access to existing mental health support, or that support is unable to resolve the situation. The Minnesota Warmline provides peer support via phone or text (text “Support” to 85511) and helps people when they are looking for support and need someone to talk to.
    • Call the Anoka County Mobile Crisis Team (763-755-3801) if the person is not in immediate danger of harming themselves or others and they do not have existing mental health support or that support is unable to resolve the crisis. When you call the mental health crisis team, they will triage the call to determine the level of crisis service needed.
      • Mobile crisis services are provided following a phone assessment to determine if a mobile visit is needed. If a mobile response is required, a team of trained mental health staff can provide mental health services to individuals within their own homes, schools, and workplaces, and at other sites outside the traditional clinical setting. This service provides for a rapid response and works to assess the individual, resolve crisis situations, and link people to needed services.
  • If the situation IS life threatening
    • Call 911 if the situation is life-threatening or if serious property damage is occurring and ask for law enforcement assistance. 
    • When you call 911, tell them someone is experiencing a mental health crisis and explain the nature of the emergency and your relationship to the person in crisis.

• Role of Law Enforcement

  • Determine if crime has been committed to warrant arrest or citation
  • Ensure site is safe and secure for crisis team and/or EMS
  • Initiate Transportation Hold
  • Provide information to EMS to transmit to ED upon admission

• Role of EMS

  • Medical assessment/evaluation
  • Transport to an Emergency Department

• Role of Mobile Crisis

  • Deescalate the situation to allow for an assessment
  • Assess the Mental Health/Substance Use issues of the individual
  • Connect individual to informal supports and community resources to stabilize
  • Determine if individual needs to be transported to an ED for evaluation and possible admission to inpatient care

• Role of County Case Manager

  • Making referrals, coordination of services
  • Monitoring treatment plans/assessments
  • Overseeing commitments if they are in place

How to be a Good Neighbor

1. House and Yard
   1. Maintain Curb Appeal: Mow the grass/shovel the snow, no garbage or broken items laying around outside, repair broken items on the house (doors, windows, screens), keep up with painting house/trim
   2. b. Know your property lines and stay within them
   3. Only go into neighbors’ yards with via invitation/permission
2. Be conscientious about where cars are parked (Never across from someone’s driveway)
3. Keep Noise Down:
   1. No loud music
   2. No yelling or fighting outside
   3. Be mindful of Voice Volume even when talking
   4. No swearing when outside
   5. If inside the house, it should not be heard outside
   6. With summer: think about open windows/noise able to get out
   7. If needed: close up and run the AC
4. Inside or outside: treat each other (staff and residents) with respect and speak to each other with respect.
5. Alcohol and Substance Use: it is a problem that needs to be addressed if it is breaking house rules or behaviors due to use are negatively impacting ability to be a good neighbor
6. Handle Neighbor Conflict Peacefully
   1. Residents, let staff handle any issues with neighbors, and staff and be respectful and kind with neighbors.

Adult Protection Information

Report suspected maltreatment of a vulnerable adult to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) at 1-844-880-1574. MAARC is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Reporting information for mandated reporters is located under Web Resources, Partners and Providers.

Questions about completed reports must be referred to the civil lead investigative agency responsible for response. The agency is determined based on the allegation.

• Allegations involving hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living and home care agencies are referred to the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Health Facility Complaints at 651-201-4201 or health.ohfc-complaints@state.mn.us. 
• Allegations involving adult foster care, group homes or services licensed by DHS are referred to DHS-Licensing at 651-431-6600 or dhs.licensingintake@state.mn.us. 
• Allegations of self-neglect by a vulnerable adult, or involving non-licensed facilities or services, are referred to county social services in the county where the vulnerable adult is currently located.

For other questions, please contact the DHS Adult Protection Unit at dhs.adultprotection@state.mn.us or 651-431-2609.

State Licensing and Complaint Contact Info

Minnesota Department of Health

Office of Health Facility Complaints

Health Regulation Division

651-201-4200

health.fpc-web@state.mn.us

The Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC) serves the general public and is part of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). OHFC carries out MDH’s responsibilities as a lead investigative agency under the Minnesota vulnerable adults act, as well as the reporting of maltreatment of minors act. OHFC can also investigate complaints and reports regarding resident/patient/client rights, quality of care, and compliance with facility licensing requirements. The OHFC functions are carried out by various parts of the Health Regulation Division (HRD) at MDH.

De-Escalation Training Resource

SAMHSA Creating Safe Scenes Training Course

This free, 1.5-hour, online training helps first responders assist individuals with mental illness or substance use disorder who are in crisis using safe, positive approaches.