Resources for Moms, Families, and Caregivers
Louisiana Crisis Response System
The Louisiana Crisis Response System (LA-CRS) provides individuals ages 21 and older who are enrolled in Medicaid with the specialized mental health services they need when they need it most. These services are available for individuals who are:
- 21 years of age and older,
- Enrolled in one of the six Healthy Louisiana Medicaid plans,
- Experiencing mental distress and would benefit from crisis response, and
- Not already on a legal commitment and can voluntarily participate in services.
When someone experiences a mental health crisis, it can be hard to determine what to do. Every crisis is different and not all require a visit to the emergency department.
LA-CRS offers four different services depending on the mental health need:
- Mobile Crisis Response: A team will go to the individual where they are to provide intervention, relief, and resolution.
- Behavioral Health Crisis Center: A walk-in center where individuals will receive short-term crisis intervention.
- Community Brief Crisis Support: Ongoing care to stabilize mental health needs, provide referral options, and coordinate with local providers. Services are provided for up to 15 days.
- Crisis Stabilization: Short-term, bed-based crisis treatment and support services for those who require a higher level of care after a crisis.
Medicaid members can contact their health plan’s Behavioral Health Care Crisis Line to access services:
- Aetna Better Health: 833-491-1094
- AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana: 844-211-0971
- Healthy Blue: 844-812-2280
- Humana Healthy Horizons of Louisiana: 833-204-5504
- Louisiana HealthCare Connections: 844-677-7553
- UnitedHealthcare: 866-232-1626
Mental Health Professionals
Local Governing Entities (LGEs), also known as health districts or authorities, are established by Louisiana state law to direct the operation and management of community-based programs and services relative to mental health, intellectual/developmental disabilities and challenges, and substance-related and addictive disorders.
There are 10 LGEs across the state in the regions of Greater New Orleans (1), Capital Area (2), South Central (3), Acadiana (4), Southwest (5), Central (6), Northwest (7), Northeast (8), Northshore (9), and Jefferson Parish (10).
LGEs provide services including screening and assessment, emergency crisis care, individual evaluation and treatment, medication administration and management, clinical casework services, specialized services for children and adolescents, specialized criminal justice services, specialized services for the elderly, and pharmacy services.
Additional Resources
- LDH Partners for Healthy Babies
- Moms’ Mental Health Matters
- Support organizations:
- Postpartum Support International: Call/text 800-944-4773
- National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: Call/text 833-852-6262
- National Alliance on Mental Illness: Call 800-950-6264 or text “helpline” to 62640
- Connect with other moms through moms’ groups in your community or online:
Downloadable Resources
- Is it the baby blues or postpartum depression?
- Preparing for your medical appointments
- Persons with mental health and substance use conditions who are planning to become pregnant
- Pregnant persons with mental health and substance use conditions
- Persons who develop mental health or substance use conditions within a year of giving birth
- Persons who want to get pregnant
- Pregnant and postpartum persons
- Action plan for depression and anxiety around pregnancy