Crisis Intervention Services.
Hotline Programs
Grassroots operates a 24-hour crisis intervention and supportive counseling hotline. Individuals may call for a variety of reasons including suicide, family and relationship problems, shelter needs, violent or threatening domestic situations, loneliness or depression, and chemical dependency issues, among others. Callers may remain anonymous. The program is accredited by the
American Association of Suicidology (AAS).
Callers can reach the Grassroots hotline by dialing 410-531-6677.
Callers from central Maryland can reach us through the Maryland Crisis Hotline at 1-800-422-0009.
Callers from any state can reach a crisis counselor by calling
Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Walk-in Counseling Program
Shelter Resident Family Walking Into Grassroots.
Anyone in need of immediate assistance may walk in to the agency at any time to see a counselor. An appointment is not needed to receive services. There is no fee for the service. Limited follow-up is offered until the client is connected with appropriate ongoing counseling or treatment resources. Walk-in counseling is geared towards the person or family in need of immediate support or crisis intervention services for a mental health, personal, situational or family crisis.
In addition, we have two satellite locations: North Laurel-Savage Multiservice Center where we have a counselor two days per week to see walk-ins and the Elkridge Food Bank where we have a counselor/case manager two Friday evenings per month when the food bank is open.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group
The Survivors of Suicide group is a free and confidential support group that provides a safe place for you to share your thoughts, feelings and experiences related to the loss of a loved one to suicide. The group is co-facilitated by a suicide survivor and mental health professional. The group is here to help you as a survivor cope with this tragedy and help in the process of putting your life together in the healthiest way possible. We recognize how difficult it may be to attend this group and talk about your loss or listen to the losses of others. Please know that we will always respect your need to share or to just sit quietly and listen to others. The group meets on the first and third Thursday of the month. Registration is required. Please call Tamara Van Newkirk at 410-531-6677 for more information or to register.
Mobile Crisis Team
Mobile Crisis Team Comes With Police for Crisis Situation in the Community.
Established in 2001, the Mobile Crisis Team is a two-member team of master’s level mental health professionals who respond with the police to psychiatric emergencies, family crises, and other traumatic events in the community. Team members have authority to sign Petitions for Emergency Evaluation which allows the police to immediately take an individual to the hospital on an involuntary basis for a psychiatric evaluation. The team responds with the police to private residences, workplaces, accident scenes, public locations, etc. The police also request MCT for traumatic death situations including homicides, suicides, or fatal work place or traffic accidents.
The program is a partnership between Grassroots,
Humanim, the
Mental Health Authority, and the
Police Department. In 2007, the Mobile Crisis Team received the Audrey Robbins Employee Team of the Year award. The team is available from noon to 11:00 pm daily and responds to about 380 crisis situations per year at this time. The Mobile Crisis Team can be reached through the Grassroots Crisis Hotline 410-531-6677.
North Laurel-Savage Multiservice Center
Walk-in Counseling Session at Grassroots.
Grassroots maintains a satellite location at the
North Laurel-Savage Multiservice Center where we provide crisis counseling for all ages. The Center is located in the Wiskey Bottom Shopping Center at 9105 All Saints Road, Laurel, MD. To make an appointment to see a counselor at the Noth Laurel-Savage Multiservice Center, please call the Grassroots hotline at 410-531-6677.
Runaway Program
In December 1997, Operation Runaway, a joint program between Grassroots and the Police Department, was implemented. In this arrangement, the Police Department refers all families who report a runaway to Grassroots and may bring any runaway youth they recover to Grassroots. Staff provide immediate assessment and intervention and determine what further or ongoing assistance is needed.