Thursday, May 2, 2024
5/2/2024
The Deschutes County Co-Responder Program is a law enforcement and behavioral health partnership between Deschutes County Health Services and Bend Police Department. A Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained police officer and a behavioral health professional will work shifts together to divert adults with serious mental illness (SMI) or a co-occurring disorder (COD) from the criminal justice system prior to arrest and booking. The Co-Responder Team's approach will allow for real time, in the field, interventions focused on assessing the needs of the individual, evaluating opportunities for diversion, and connecting the individuals with community-based services. In addition to the behavioral health professional, the Co-Responder Program will include a Peer Support Specialist (PSS). The PSS will be an individual with lived life experience who will engage the individual, reduce barriers to necessary services, and provide ongoing support to ensure successful follow through and engagement. Integration into community-based services will be accomplished through coordination with DCHS programs as well as other SMI and COD community providers. Embedded within the DCHS Crisis Program, Co-Responder staff will be part of the largest community SMI and COD organization in Deschutes County. DCHS provides a wide array of evidence-based practices and services that range from traditional outpatient services to intensive community-based supports. The level of need for a co-responder program has been growing over the years. Data from the Bend PD regarding AMI (allegedly mental ill) shows ongoing increases, e.g. 2010: 664 calls compared to the 1,809 calls received in 2017 for an overall increase of 172%. The Co-Responder Program will build upon the foundation created by the CIT Program and well as the Sequential Intercept Mapping that was conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in 2012. Project goals and objectives include: 1) increasing the number of individuals with SMI or COD who are diverted from the criminal justice system, 2) increasing the number of diverted individuals with SMI or COD who are enrolled in community-based behavioral health services, 3) increasing the number of diverted individual with SMI or COD who are enrolled in an integrated medial and behavioral health setting, 4) increasing the number of diverted veterans with SMI or COD who are receiving community-based services, and 5) increasing the number of individuals referred by law enforcement who are screened for SMI or COD. The Co-Responder Program will serve 400 individuals on an annual basis and 2,210 over a five-year period.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
