What is a Mobile Crisis Team?
A Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) is a group of certified and credentialed professionals who are specially trained to deliver care to people in crisis wherever they are during an active crisis. The Fairbanks Crisis Now MCT will always respond with a master's level behavioral health clinician and a certified peer support specialist.
How does the Mobile Crisis Team Work?
The MCT in Fairbanks is dispatched by the Fairbanks Emergency Communications Center primarily in response to a 911 call or 988 transfer, but the MCT can also be requested by first responders. To access the MCT, call 911 to request the services and dispatchers will triage the call. When appropriate the MCT will accompany other first responders, but will also have the capability to respond independently depending upon the situation. On the scene, the MCT will be able to assess the person in crisis and the situation. The MCT will then help the person resolve the crisis on location and/or connect the person to other resources. The MCT will also follow up with the person within 48 hours of the crisis.
Who is providing MCT services?
The MCT in Fairbanks is dispatched by the Fairbanks Emergency Communications Center. Alaska Behavioral Health staffs the MCT with mental health clinicians and certified peer support specialists.
What are the MCT response levels?
Before the MCT is dispatched each call is carefully screened to determine the appropriate level of response needed. Below is a brief summary of the five response levels:
- Level 1 Response: Law Enforcement response required with MCT accompanying or staging. This level indicates situations that are too dangerous to deploy without the scene first being secured by law enforcement. It is also key in these situations to have a response within the shortest amount of time possible. The caller is in imminent danger to self-and/or others.
- Level 2 Response: MCT Lead with law enforcement staging near the scene. This level indicates situations where MCT staff enter the environment first, but law enforcement is immediately available if needed.
- Level 3 Response: MCT Lifeline – Law Enforcement on standby via phone call. A call will be stacked for law enforcement with all information and waiting for MCT to advise if law enforcement is needed. Law enforcement will not respond until requested by MCT.
- Level 4 Response: MCT without law enforcement on standby. Law enforcement will still be aware of the MCT call.
- Level 5 Response: MCT clinicians may respond to "safe sites" (school, hospital, clinic, etc.) without a peer support specialist. Residences are not considered "safe sites".
- Level 6 Response: MCT responds over phone or via telehealth to caller.
What data is available for the past month of MCT calls?
December 2025
Outcome of Calls:
· Mobile Crisis Team: 87%
· Hospitalization: 13%
· Resolved with Law Enforcement: 0%
Total calls: 194
Unique individuals served: 118
Average time from call initiated to MCT arrival on scene (AKBH Data): 9 minutes
MCT average time on scene (AKBH Data): 28 minutes
Number of calls by response level:
· Level 1: 5
· Level 2: 4
· Level 3: 49
· Level 4: 69
· Level 5: 5
· Level 6: 62
Individuals served by age:
Average age: 43
Years: 17<: 6 Years: 18-24: 11
Years: 25-34: 25 Years: 35-44: 20
Years: 45-54: 14 Years: 55-64: 12
Years: 65+: 20 Not available: 10
For more information, see full data sheets below.
The MCT in the News:
December 24, 2025: Fairbanks Daily News Miner - Mobile Crisis Team Fields an Ever-growing Number of Calls
December 8, 2023: KTVF - Mobile Crisis team Resolving Higher Percentage of Calls Without Police or Hospitalizations
May 18, 2023: Anchorage Daily News - For Alaskans in Behavioral Health Emergencies, Mobile Crisis Teams are an Effective New Approach
December 8th, 2022: State of Reform - Fairbanks Mobile Crisis Teams Awarded $800,000 Grant to Strengthen Crisis Response
December 10, 2021: Alaska Public Media - A New Crisis Team in Fairbanks is Responding to Mental Health Calls and Freeing Up Other Emergency Resources
November 21, 2021: Fairbanks Daily News Miner - New Mobile Crisis Teams Respond to Mental Health Emergencies
October 14, 2021: KTVF - Fairbanks Adopts 'Crisis Now' Model of Mental Health Care
Supporting Documents
- Alaska Behavioral Health MCT Presentation 1.22 MB
- Crisis Now Mobile Crisis Team 325.95 KB
- MCT Data 01.2025 310.24 KB
- MCT Data 02.2025 308.63 KB
- MCT Data 03.2025 209.05 KB
- MCT Data 04.2025 208.99 KB
- MCT Data 05.2025 203.72 KB
- MCT Data 06.2025 271.22 KB
- MCT Data 07.2025 199.31 KB
- MCT Data 08.2025 199.02 KB
- MCT Data 09.2025 212.11 KB
- MCT Data 10.2025 212.9 KB
- MCT Data 11.2025 212.75 KB
- MCT Data 12.2025 209.62 KB