Agenda Date: 2/05/2019
Subject:
Title
A resolution approving a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Littleton Police Department (LPD) and AllHealth Network for response to mental health emergencies.
Body
Presented By:
Doug Stephens, Chief of Police
REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION:
Does city council support an MOU between AllHealth Network and the LPD which identifies joint roles and responsibilities in responding to mental health emergencies?
BACKGROUND:
In 2018, the LPD responded to over 700 calls for service involving mental health crises. Many of these calls were repeat contacts with individuals whose conditions result in frequent contact with law enforcement.
The LPD completes referrals to AllHealth Network for every call where officers believe follow-up mental health services would be beneficial to the individual. Historically, referrals result in follow-up contact by mental health service providers within approximately 72 hours after the initial police contact. Such a delay often results in less effective mental health service since most individuals are no longer experiencing the crisis situation which resulted in the initial contact. Therefore, they are less likely to accept services offered by mental health professionals.
In 2017 the LPD initiated a pilot program whereby officers teamed up with mental health clinicians from AllHealth Network to "co-respond" to active mental-health related calls for service. The co-responder rides along with LPD officers on patrol, or is stationed at LPD headquarters, to provide an immediate mental health response to calls for service. The officer's role in these instances is to deescalate volatile situations and ensure a safe environment while the AllHealth clinician provides immediate assessment and access to mental health services for those in crisis.
The "co-responder" program has been very successful in reducing the number of repeat LPD contacts with chronic sufferers of mental health issues. Sometime...
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