Co-response: Clinicians Matched with Police
In January, the Department of Mental Health’s Jail Diversion program was on the chopping block for the state budget. Tireless advocacy efforts saved the program. The NAMI MA Advocacy team described the role of the Jail Diversion program (JDP) this way: “JDP provides funding to municipalities, behavioral health providers, and law enforcement to support initiatives that connect individuals experiencing a mental health crisis with appropriate care, rather than subjecting them to arrest or incarceration. The program reduces strain on law enforcement, the judicial system, and hospital emergency departments.”
A key part of JDP is the police co-response program that matches mental health clinicians with local police departments. The clinicians/social workers ride along as plain clothed civilians on behavioral health police calls to offer in the moment crisis support and follow up with those exhibiting symptoms of mental health and substance use distress by connecting them to services. This reduces involuntary inpatient commitments and helps individuals avoid further entanglement in the criminal justice system. Co-response is growing across the country, including in Lowell MA.
On August 16th the local paper in Lowell, “The Sun,” had an article praising the co-response program that has been in the city since July 2021. “The Sun” reported that Lowell’s co-response program has “conducted 1,400 direct interventions” and “achieved 302 emergency department diversions and 148 arrest diversions.”
In the article the Superintendent of Lowell Police, Greg Hudon, noted the importance of diverting individuals from hospital emergency rooms and involuntary commitment. He also said that the department plans to hire a second clinician and increase Crisis Intervention Training, another program under the JDP umbrella, for his officers. Hudon is quoting as saying, “Responding professionally and compassionately to those facing behavioral health challenges and crises is one of the most important jobs of the Lowell Police Department.”
That is a big win for the citizens of Lowell and the mental health advocates who made sure the JDP program retained its funding.