Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of a Mental Health Field Response Grant from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a resolution authorizing acceptance of a Mental Health Field Response Grant from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC).
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a resolution authorizing acceptance of a Mental Health Field Response Grant from the WASPC.
Staff Contact:
Anne Larsen, Outreach Services Coordinator, Police, 360.753.8238
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
As an alternative first responder model, the Crisis Response Unit (CRU) team works with Olympia community members in crisis due to behavioral health, poverty, substance use and mental health conditions. The CRU team responds to community members independent of law enforcement and at times in coordination with law enforcement.
Between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, the number one referral the CRU team made was to a Designated Crisis Responder (DCR) for an evaluation of an individual who was either gravelly disabled, or a harm to themselves or others.
The result of coordinated crisis outreach benefits the community, law enforcement, the DCR's and the client. Community members in crisis are almost always safer and receive better treatment when crisis work is done in the community and not in emergency rooms or jails. This proposed resolution authorizes the use of grant funding for the addition of a Designated Crisis Responder (DCR) through Olympic Health and Recovery Services.
The resulting continuity of care for the most vulnerable individuals in our community will provide better long lasting, sustained care for those in crisis. Adding a DCR to the program will benefit OPD officers (shorten wait times for community evaluations) and have long-lasting steadfast be...
Click here for full text