Emergency Community Support
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The Emergency Community Support (ERCS) program provides individualized care coordination and support for those who have recently experienced a crisis. A crisis is a critical event that can signal a need for change.

At times, a crisis can lead to individuals being placed on Emergency Protective Custody (EPC) and taken to a crisis facility by law enforcement. In these cases, individuals are determined to be an immediate danger to themselves or to others.

But there is help, and there is hope. When people and families are in crisis, they seek solutions and assistance. Quality compassionate care is our primary goal.

When a caring provider is readily available to assist and to follow-up, individuals are more likely to follow through with recommended services and achieve success. Therefore, the individual is more likely to not require additional Emergency Protective Custody services.

ERCS is short-term (30-90 days) and may include assistance in the following areas:

• Crisis stabilization and support
• Relapse prevention plans including individual warning signs and interventions
• Coordination of continuous care and acquisition of necessary resources through community-wide agencies and programs
• Consumer advocacy
• Promotion of self-care and daily living skills
• Integration and communication within the community
• Increase medication compliance and education
• Mental health and symptomology education

Individuals served must:

• Reside within the Region V area, which consists of Lancaster, Richardson, Pawnee, Nemaha, Johnson, Gage, Jefferson, Saline, Fillmore, Thayer, Seward, Saunders, Butler, Otoe, York and Polk counties
  (If you do not reside in the Region V area, please contact our Lincoln office for a referral to an ERCS program in your area)
• Be 19 years old or older
• Be on an Emergency Protective Custody (EPC) hold at the Lancaster County Crisis Center or other crisis facility
• Be deemed able to stabilize with the involvement of an ERCS worker, according to the evaluation completed during their crisis
• Be referred by a crisis facility

Program Fees & Hours

The ERCS program is funded by Region V Systems and is available at no cost. The cost of other related services (counseling, substance abuse treatment, etc.) is the client's responsibility.

The ERCS worker meets with the individual at his/her residence, LFS agency offices in Lincoln, Wahoo, Seward - St. John Lutheran Church, Pawnee City, or another site.

Hours are flexible to meet client needs.

For more information, please contact the LFS office nearest you.

Subsidy funds for this program are received from Region V Systems and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.