Police Response Prius: Mental Health Crisis Care
Okay, here’s a breakdown of the provided text, focusing on key details and summarizing the main points:
Main Topic: The article discusses a pilot program in San Mateo County, California, where mental health clinicians were paired wiht police officers to respond to mental health crisis calls. It explores the program’s success, its continuation, and the broader shift towards alternative responses to mental health emergencies.
Key Points:
* Rising Mental Health calls: Police departments across California were seeing an increase in calls related to mental health crises, putting officers in challenging situations without the necesary expertise.
* The Pilot Program: San Mateo County launched a pilot program pairing police officers with mental health clinicians (like Briana Fair) to respond to these calls.
* Positive Results: The program was prosperous. Police Chief Ed Barberini initially worried about officer resistance, but found it led to better outcomes and more lasting solutions than simply “triaging” problems.
* Co-Responder Model: The program utilizes a “co-responder” model, where clinicians work with police, rather than replacing them entirely.
* Beyond Co-Responders: Experts like Mariela Ruiz-Angel emphasize that co-responders are a good start, but the ultimate goal is to move towards a system where police aren’t the default response for all crises, and public safety is defined by the appropriate response.
* Sustainability: All participating cities have found ways to continue the program after the initial pilot funding ended.San Mateo Police Department created a permanent mental health clinician position.
* Cost: The two-year pilot program cost $1.5 million, split between the county and the cities.
* Example of Success: The article mentions a specific example of Fair responding to emails from officers requesting follow-up with individuals they’ve interacted with.
In essence,the article highlights a promising approach to handling mental health crises that prioritizes a more compassionate and effective response than relying solely on law enforcement. It suggests a shift in thinking about public safety,moving away from a police-centric model towards one that emphasizes appropriate care and support.
Let me know if you’d like me to elaborate on any specific aspect of the text!