ACTIONS NOT WORDS: #WestchesterCounty Executive George Latimer Is Bringing police Reform And Putting Boots On The Ground In #Yonkers
POLICE REFORM: Westchester Is Bringing “Project Alliance Training” To The #YonkersPoliceDepartment, Along With A Mobile Crisis Response Team – That Will Be Based in The City Of Hills
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY: In response to the Westchester County Police Reform And Reimagining Task Force report to the Governor, the County announced the Project Alliance program
WHITE PLAINS: Project Alliance represents a five-prong approach developed by Westchester County Executive #GeorgeLatimer with the Department of Community Mental Health, Department of Public Safety, Department of Emergency Services and Department of Social Services to address the needs of Westchester County residents with behavioral health challenges.
This innovative effort — to respond to emergencies where mental health expertise, not just police expertise, is called for — will save lives. It is a creative, cooperative synergy of resources across departments to do things in new ways.
The five prongs are described below:
911 Dispatch Diversion Training
Westchester County will provide training to all law enforcement agencies on 911 Diversion. This training is based on a model developed in Broome County/Binghamton and creates a fourth option for emergency response, adding Behavioral Health to the existing police, fire and medical responses.
This on-going training is offered in two phases:
(1) Offered to County dispatchers and
(2) available to all law enforcement agencies in the County. There is no charge for the training.
Enhanced Training for EMT on Responding to Behavioral Health Issues
To enhance and expand training for EMTs and paramedics in responding to a mental health crisis, a specialized crisis training was developed for members of the EMS community.
This training module will be ready for implementation late fall.
Enhancement of County-wide Behavioral Health Crisis Response Line
The County has collaborated with St. Vincent’s Hospital to expand the existing Crisis Prevention and Response services to include support for 911-Diversion Behavioral Health Crisis phone services and to support the newly created National 988 Suicide Prevention Line.
Service would be 24/7 for residents experiencing behavioral health crisis, concerned family members, other providers and law enforcement/911 dispatchers. Full implementation of the response line will occur by early 2022.
It is believed that many of the crisis calls diverted to the crisis line will be successfully resolved without having to mobilize any resources to the scene.
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Trainings
Westchester County has provided CIT training to law enforcement agencies in Westchester and neighboring departments for many years.
Under Project Alliance, this police-based crisis intervention training will prepare more officers and other first responders to manage crises involving people with mental illness effectively.
The training also improves their understanding and accessibility of the public mental health system, while promoting officer safety and the safety of the individual in crisis.
Training is available to recruits and seasoned officers with a more in-depth in-service training, as well as being expanded to EMS and 911 dispatchers.
Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRT)
An innovative partnership between the mental health system and law enforcement in responding to the needs of residents experiencing mental health crisis.
MCRTs consists of staff who have substantial training and experience in addressing mental health and substance use systems.
Their primary role of MCRTs is to support law enforcement in addressing mental health crisis by rapid engagement, assessment of needs, and providing short-term support and linkage to necessary services.
The three teams in 2021 are Mount Kisco, Port Chester and New Rochelle.
The five teams in 2022 are Ossining, Peekskill, White Plains/Greenburgh, Mount Vernon and Yonkers.