Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS)

Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) provides rapid, community-based behavioral health crisis response and stabilization services for children and youth ages 2 up to 21 in Rhode Island.

MRSS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Services are designed to help children, youth and families manage a behavioral health crisis safely in the community and connect with ongoing services and supports when needed.

On This Page

How to Get Help
Who Can Use MRSS
How MRSS Works
What MRSS Provides
MRSS Providers and Service Areas
Information and Resources for MRSS Providers

How to Get Help

Call or text 988 and ask for MRSS.

Families, schools, behavioral health providers and other community partners may also contact the licensed MRSS provider serving their area directly.
Call 911 when there is an immediate medical emergency or an immediate dangerous situation or urgent safety threat.

Who Can Use MRSS

Children and youth ages 2 up to 21 in Rhode Island.
Families who are concerned about a child's or youth's emotional or behavioral health.
Referrals may come from families, schools, behavioral health providers or other community partners, with family involvement.

How MRSS Works

1. Triage and Dispatch

After a family calls or texts 988 and asks for MRSS, a trained responder gathers information about the family's needs and concerns.
The family is connected to an MRSS team in most cases, and family needs and preferences help guide the next steps.

2. Mobile Response

For immediate needs, the MRSS team responds in person within one hour.
Support comes to the family's chosen location, such as the home, school or another community setting.
During the first contact, the team provides crisis de-escalation, safety assessment and crisis planning. When there is no immediate safety concern, a visit may be scheduled within 24 hours.

3. Stabilization

MRSS provides short-term follow-up to help the child or youth and family remain safe and stable.
The team helps connect the family to services, ongoing care and community resources that fit the family's situation. Stabilization services may continue for up to 30 days.

What MRSS Provides

MRSS provides:

Rapid, family-centered support in the least restrictive setting.
Crisis de-escalation and safety assessment.
Safety and crisis planning with the child or youth and family.
Assessment of needs, strengths and immediate supports.
Support for children, youth and caregivers.
Short-term stabilization and follow-up.
Connection to ongoing services, care and community resources.

MRSS Providers and Service Areas

Rhode Island has three DCYF licensed MRSS providers. Each provider has primary responsibility for specific cities and towns. Find your community below to identify the MRSS provider serving your area.

Family Service of Rhode Island

Serves: Barrington, Block Island, Bristol, Cranston, East Providence, Foster, Glocester, Johnston, North Providence, Providence, Scituate, Smithfield, Warren

MRSS Crisis Support Line: (401) 854-6678

Tides Family Services

Serves: Burrillville, Central Falls, Charlestown, Coventry, Cumberland, East Greenwich, Exeter, Hopkinton, Lincoln, Narragansett, North Kingstown, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Richmond, South Kingstown, Warwick, Westerly, West Greenwich, West Warwick, Woonsocket

MRSS Crisis Support Line: (401) 615-9374

Newport Mental Health

Serves: Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton

MRSS Crisis Support Line: (401) 846-1213, option 1

Information and Resources for MRSS Providers

The resources below are for MRSS providers. They include current Rhode Island MRSS guidance, Medicaid provider and billing information, reporting materials, licensing requirements and fidelity resources.