People living with serious mental illnesses, substance use disorders, and other behavioral health needs are disproportionately criminalized and incarcerated in New York City—over half of people incarcerated on Rikers Island have a mental illness, and at least one in five have a serious mental illness. Inadequate behavioral health treatment combined with the emotional and physical trauma experienced in jails and prisons results in a decline in overall wellness as well as significant challenges reentering the community for people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders.  

CASES Mobile Behavioral Health Services staff meet New Yorkers in their communities, including in their homes, in shelters, on the streets, or in hospitals—anywhere they feel comfortable or need support to address their needs. Our Mobile Behavioral Health Services features 16 State-licensed, evidence-based mobile treatment teams, including nine Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams and seven Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) teams, working across all five boroughs to provide 24/7 psychiatric, nursing, social work, and peer services to support the recovery and wellness of New Yorkers with behavioral health needs who have been impacted by involvement in the City’s criminal legal system.