For Immediate Release:
4/1/2025
Gratiot Integrated Health Network Awarded $869,000 Grant to Enhance Crisis Care Access
Funding strengthens 24/7 crisis services with expanded telehealth, mobile teams, and a centralized Crisis Hub—ensuring faster, more tailored mental health support.
Alma, MI – Gratiot Integrated Health Network (GIHN), which has provided 24/7 crisis intervention services to Gratiot County for years, will significantly enhance access to care thanks to an $869,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The funding, secured under Director of Clinical Services Sarah Bowman, will ensure individuals in crisis can connect more quickly with the right level of care—whether by phone, in-person, or through mobile teams—reducing reliance on emergency departments.
Upgrading Existing Crisis Services
While GIHN has long offered round-the-clock crisis support, the grant fills critical gaps by:
- Launching a 24/7 Crisis Hub: A centralized access point (via 911, 988, or community lines) with immediate telehealth support (FY25) and an eventual Behavioral Health Urgent Care (FY27) for in-person stabilization.
- Expanding Mobile Crisis Teams: Extending Intensive Crisis Stabilization Services (ICSS) to adults (previously youth-only) and adding full-time staff to cover extended hours (8 AM–midnight), replacing on-call systems.
- Improving Collaboration: Partnering with Alma Police to embed a behavioral health co-responder, ensuring crisis calls are triaged by mental health professionals rather than law enforcement when appropriate.
Why It Matters for Gratiot County
Rural challenges—including limited transportation, homelessness, and high rates of mental health and substance use crises—have strained existing resources. Over the past three years, GIHN’s crisis team responded to 2,617 interventions, with 68% involving adults with severe mental illness and 35% involving co-occurring substance use disorders.
“With this grant, we are able to significantly expand crisis services for individuals in Gratiot County," said Michelle Stillwagon, CEO of Gratiot Integrated Health Network (GIHN). "This funding will allow our staff to meet people where they are—whether by phone, in their homes, or at our future Crisis Hub. GIHN is committed to continuing our collaboration with the community and providing top-notch mental health services to those in need."
Next Steps & Partnerships
- Hiring 1.5 new crisis staff and a peer support specialist (FY25).
- Finalizing collaborations with MyMichigan Health and Alma Police to streamline care.
- Launching the telehealth Crisis Hub this year, with physical site development underway
Media Contact:
Rachelle Page-Lewis | Public Relations Coordinator
989-466-4131 | rpage@gihn-mi.org
www.gihn-mi.org
****
Gratiot Integrated Health Network (GIHN) provides comprehensive mental health and substance use services for individuals of all ages in Gratiot County. Services include outpatient therapy, psychiatric care, case management, crisis intervention, intellectual and developmental disability support, and community-based programs. GIHN is committed to promoting mental wellness and ensuring access to quality care for those in need.