Crisis Services: Information for Providers

This page provides information for professionals who support people experiencing increased stress or symptoms related to mental health and substance use concerns.

Crisis Intervention Network virtual meetings

All professionals who respond to mental health and substance use crisis situations are invited to participate in quarterly virtual meetings with staff from the Division of Care and Treatment Services, Division of Medicaid Services, and Division of Quality Assurance.

Crisis Intervention Network meetings are held in March, June, September, and December.

Join our Crisis Intervention Network email list to receive information about these meetings.

Administrative codes

Core competencies

Crisis Care Workers Core Competencies
Crisis care workers can use the information in this guide to assess their own performance and set action plans for professional development.

Crisis Care Supervisors Core Competencies
Crisis care supervisors can use the information in this guide to promote worker satisfaction and confidence, support workforce retention, and ensure effective service delivery.

Medicaid updates

The Wisconsin Medicaid crisis intervention services benefit has added an option for teaming. The billing codes and modifiers have been updated for all crisis services. Watch a webinar that explains the updates. If you have questions about these updates, contact: dhsmedicaidcrisis@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

ForwardHealth Update 2023-06 (PDF) covers information on the expanded mobile crisis benefit and changes to crisis intervention services claim submission.

Peer recovery support services

Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 72 defines and regulates peer recovery support services.

Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 72 certification for peer recovery support services is not required for crisis services programs certified under Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 34.

Peer recovery support services provided by peer recovery coaches under the standards listed in Wis. Admin Code ch. DHS 72, subch. II, are covered by Wisconsin Medicaid.

There are no changes to the Wisconsin Medicaid coverage policy for crisis services programs certified under Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 34 programs because peer services are included in the crisis services Wisconsin Medicaid benefit.

Programs certified under Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 34 should review Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 72 and create or revise policies and procedures to comply with the standards for peer recovery support services.

Send questions regarding Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 72 to the Division of Care and Treatment Services at DHSDCTS72@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

Program certification

See our Mental Health Treatment Programs: Certification page for information on crisis services program certification.

Policy documents, reports, research papers, and toolkits

2022 Crisis Services Programs Survey Report (PDF)
This report was published in 2024. It provides an overview of the data collected in 2022 from county crisis services programs to better understand the landscape of crisis services across Wisconsin.

Crisis Now: Transforming Services is Within Our Reach (PDF)
This report from the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention provides a road map for change in crisis services.

Crisis Now Library
This library is a collection of reports, research papers, and technical assistance documents related to improving crisis services.

Crisis Services and Emergency Detentions Statewide, 2013-2021, P-02517 (PDF)
This report was published in 2024. It examines statewide trends in youth and adult involuntary emergency civil detentions psychiatric hospitalizations and the provision of emergency mental health service programs.

Crisis Services: Effectiveness, Cost Effectiveness, and Funding Strategies (PDF)
This report summarizes the evidence base on the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of different types of crisis services, and then presents case studies of different approaches that states are using to coordinate, consolidate, and blend fund sources in order to provide robust crisis services.

Collaborative Approaches to Responding to Behavioral Health Emergencies (PDF)
This policy paper reviews best practices for law enforcement crisis response, outlines the components of a comprehensive continuum of crisis care that provides alternatives to law enforcement involvement and emergency detention utilization, and provides strategies for collaboration and alignment towards common goals.

National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care: Best Practice Toolkit
This document provides a framework for transforming crisis care systems in communities throughout the United States with the goal of saving lives by helping anyone experiencing a crisis anytime, anywhere.

Peers in Crisis Services: Results of a 2023 State Survey (PDF)
This report was published in 2024. It highlights data on the peer community, peer support in Wisconsin, and peer perspectives and experiences related to working in services for people experiencing mental health and substance use emergencies.

Training opportunities

Training and technical assistance contacts

Operational goals for crisis services transformation: brianne.zaborowske@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Crisis call services: caroline.crehanneumann@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Mobile crisis response and crisis stabilization services: jenna.suleski@dhs.wisconsin.gov
Youth crisis services: elizabeth.rudy@dhs.wisconsin.gov

Wisconsin Psychiatric Bed Tracker

The Wisconsin Psychiatric Bed Locator Tool assists hospital emergency room staff and county staff responsible for approval of emergency detentions locate potential availability of psychiatric beds for the purpose of referring patients for care. Only registered users can use this tool. Learn more about the Wisconsin Psychiatric Bed Tracker.