Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Westchester is introducing a mental health crisis option, to go along with police, fire and EMS when people dial 9-1-1. The 911-caller diversion system, through which 911 dispatchers identify and refer individuals to the Crisis Network Team, staffed by St. Vincent’s Hospital crisis personnel, has gone live! As a core element of the Westchester County Police Reform Task Force recommendations, this initiative will provide individuated responses depending on the nature of the emergency call and will be particularly helpful to people in behavioral health crises.
The Crisis Network staff will provide supportive services, as well as de-escalation and connection to services and systems that will help address the root cause of the crisis. With Westchester’s Mobile Crisis Response Teams in the process of coming on line, the Crisis Network staff can direct the deployment of mobile crisis responders when needed.
In the first phase of the rollout, the team will accept 911 callers diverted from the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, Department of Emergency Services, Port Chester Police Department and the Village of Mamaroneck Police Department. Ultimately, when fully operationalized, 911 diversion is anticipated to be a first-instance option for every law enforcement agency in the county.
In preparation for this, Westchester County, utilizing a grant obtained by People USA, Inc., has trained one hundred sixty-three 911 dispatchers, call takers and desk officers across the county. The trainings are presented by county staff, led by DCMH Program Director Mark Giuliano, and co-facilitated by Retired Police Lieutenant Mike Hatch, formerly with the MHA of the Southern Tier.
Please forward this E-News to family and friends who may be interested in this information.
Very truly yours,
Kitley S. Covill
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