Communities across the nation are developing and adopting a variety of alternative crisis response models, including co-responder, community-led response, multi-disciplinary response teams, among numerous other iterations. For far too long the debate has been if these responses should be either law enforcement based or civilian only teams. However, communities that adopt a civilian-only response team must also incorporate additional strategies to address the significant number of mental health related calls for service that remain; and presumably would necessitate a traditional law enforcement-only response to provide an equitable mental health emergency response to people with symptoms which present with a public safety risk. Not doing so may contribute to over-policing mental health calls for service. The solution to equitable mental health emergency alternative response is not an “or” solution, rather it is an “and” solution. This session will focus on the Ecosystem of AND.
Webinars with this Speaker
- June 23: Creating a Continuum Ecosystem of Crisis Response (this webinar)
- Aug 2: The Fourth Option: Mental Health Services
Resources and Handouts
- Handout: Multi-Disciplinary Response Teams: Transforming Emergency Mental Health Response in Texas
- Link: “We Had to Work with Partners to Help Them See Mental Health as a Medical Need” (Pew Charitable Trust)
Audience Comments
- “The potential to incorporate Mental Health Emergency as the fourth pillar of EMS (Fire, Police, Ambulance are current pillars). The topic was well presented and gave new information as well.” — Wynford
- “This webinar stressed the need for a multidisciplinary approach to mental health calls through the 911 system.” — Stephanie
- “Great overview of what is needed. …” — Laura
- “All of it! This was a great webinar and BJ was a great trainer. Thank you!” — Jennifer
