What is the Mobile Crisis Team (MCT)?
The Anchorage Fire Department Mobile Crisis Team (AFD MCT) provides an integrated behavioral health response to individuals experiencing behavioral health crises across the Municipality of Anchorage. The two-member teams follows the Crisis Now framework and SAMHSA best-practice standards, pairing a licensed mental health clinician with a paramedic or EMT to deliver timely, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care. The program prioritizes stabilization, risk assessment, and connection to appropriate services, allowing most crises to be resolved safely in the community rather than in emergency departments or through law enforcement involvement.
What is the goal of the Mobile Crisis Team?
MCT strives to provide first responder-based community outreach for those in mental health crisis to reduce hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and out-of-home placements.
Who are the staff members of the Mobile Crisis Team?
AFD MCT is staffed by a licensed mental health clinician and a paramedic or EMT, allowing for interdisciplinary care that addresses complex and diverse needs. The team prioritizes stabilization, risk assessment, and connection to appropriate care, enabling many crises to be resolved without an emergency department admission or law enforcement involvement.
In what situations do the Mobile Crisis Team respond?
AFD MCT meets patients where they are at and provides services anywhere in the Anchorage municipality (including Girdwood, Eagle River, and Chugiak) to assist non-violent adults, adolescents, and children of any age who are:
- Experiencing a current behavioral health crisis
- Needs immediate assistance, a risk assessment, stabilization, or treatment due to risk of harm to self or others
- Needs emotional support or mental health resources
- The individual/family/caregiver is unable to cope with the immediate crisis and they have no
other support in the community
Are there situations in which the Mobile Crisis Team would not respond?
MCT is not the appropriate resource for every situation. The team will NOT respond to situations where:
- a person actively is attempting suicide, assaulting others, or experiencing an acute medical emergency
- a person is violent or has a weapon
- an active Emergency Detention Title 47 hold or Ex Parte is in place and a person needs to be transported
- a person is receiving inpatient care or is in a detention center
How do I contact the Mobile Crisis Team?
To request MCT, call 9-1-1 or 3-1-1. The caller can make a request for themself to recieve assistance or for a another individual in crises.
Is the Mobile Crisis Team available 24/7 (24-hours a day, 7-days a week)?
As of December 2025, MCT operates 24/7, as capacity allows, expanding access during nights and high-demand periods.
AFD launched a second MCT unit in June 2025 to provide assertive outreach, follow-up care, and surge support during peak call volumes.
Resources
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