|
Dear IMSA Families,
Our students' health, safety, and well-being are our highest priority. We know how important it is for families to feel confident that their children are cared for and supported, especially when they may be experiencing a difficult or challenging moment.
Our school counselors and student support staff work closely with students and families to provide a safe, caring, and supportive residential learning environment. We also recognize that students may need additional support outside of regular school hours. That's why we are partnering with trusted community organizations, including the Ecker Center for Behavioral Health, to help ensure students have access to appropriate care when they need it.
How the Ecker Center Supports IMSA Students
If a student is experiencing a behavioral health or safety crisis at a time when an IMSA school counselor is not on site, IMSA may contact the Ecker Center’s Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT). This team of trained behavioral health professionals can come to campus to assess the student's immediate needs, provide support, and help determine appropriate next steps.
Parents and guardians are important partners in this process. Before the MCRT services are initiated, IMSA staff will contact a student’s parents/guardians to discuss the concerns and available options. A parent/guardian may choose to immediately pick up their student and arrange an independent behavioral health assessment with a preferred provider of their choice. IMSA staff can help identify available resources, and families may also consult their healthcare or insurance provider.
What Support Can the Mobile Crisis Response Team Provide?
-
Direct Assessment: Meet with and assess the student to better understand the immediate safety concerns and level of risk.
-
Information Gathering: Speak directly with IMSA staff and the student's parent/guardian to gather information necessary to assess the situation.
-
Safety Planning: Provide recommendations regarding appropriate next steps to support the student's safety and well-being, including the need for a higher level of assessment and care at a behavioral health center.
-
Service Connections: Help connect the student and family to additional behavioral health and/or other appropriate services when needed.
MCRT will include parents/guardians in discussions regarding recommendations and next steps whenever possible. Depending on the situation, MCRT may request relevant insurance information if services are being provided and discuss whether additional follow-up would be beneficial.
There is no cost to IMSA families for MCRT services. While the Ecker Center may request insurance information for reimbursement purposes, families will not be charged for these services.
Our goal is to build strong partnerships with community providers to ensure our students receive the highest quality of care and support. If you have any questions about this resource or how IMSA supports students during a behavioral health concern, please contact Jayshree Panchal, Coordinator of School Counseling, at 630-907-5986.
Titans Together,
IMSA School Counseling Team
| 
