Rep. Schmaltz secures funding for innovative van to help people in need

State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz has secured $210,000 in the new state budget for LifeWays, the Jackson-Hillsdale Community Mental Health program, to purchase an Innovative Mobile Mental Health Crisis Unit that will expand access to mental health services throughout Jackson County.

The innovative unit will consist of a specially designed van equipped with advanced telehealth technology, allowing trained mental health professionals to provide crisis response, screening, assessments, and short-term therapy wherever services are needed.

“Too many people face barriers when they need mental health care, whether it’s transportation challenges, concerns about stigma, or the fact that help simply isn’t close by,” Schmaltz said. “This investment will allow LifeWays to bring services directly into neighborhoods, helping people get support sooner and closer to home. It will improve outcomes, strengthen public safety, and ensure more residents can access the care they need.”

The mobile unit will provide a discreet, trauma-informed setting for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis and will enhance LifeWays’ outreach efforts to vulnerable populations, including veterans and others who may struggle to access traditional office-based services.

The new van also will support LifeWays’ Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) partnerships with local law enforcement agencies. CIT co-responders are specially trained mental health professionals who work alongside police officers to de-escalate situations involving individuals in crisis and help connect them with treatment and support rather than unnecessary involvement in the criminal justice system.

“By helping people access care at the earliest stages of a crisis, we can often prevent situations from escalating into emergency room visits, hospitalizations, or arrests,” Schmaltz said. “This is a smart investment that will improve care, reduce costs in the long run, and make our community safer for everyone.”