Skokie Police Chief Brian Baker said he is optimistic that a new pilot program launched May 1 will help people experiencing behavioral or mental health crisis incidents in the village.
The new effort, called the Co-Responder Program, aims to provide those dealing with mental health crises treatment without placing them into the criminal justice system.
“I think it’s a very complex issue that is certainly not simple to address,” said Baker. “But I think this program is a great start to understand the issue in better clarity and bring resources to bare that can have a greater impact and kind of remove the police being the primary response to those incidents. I think it’s fantastic.”
The village launched the one-month long pilot to increase awareness and recognition by first responders of people experiencing behavioral and mental health crisis incidents. Officials also want to find the “best intervention and outcomes for those experiencing a crisis,” said Mike Charley, Skokie’s director of Health and Human Services.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between Skokie police, specifically police officers and communications staff, the village’s Health and Human Services Department and the Skokie Fire Department. It pairs first responders and social work staff together to respond to behavioral health-related calls for emergency services, according to a news release.
One goal of the program is to directly link individuals with behavioral health issues to appropriate services.
The village has been helping residents with mental health and behavioral health issues for years, but the pilot program will help those in the need of help when they originally interact with first responders, Charley said.
“We’re constantly looking for ways to improve services to the community,” Charley said. “This is an opportunity for us to identify the best way to ensure that our residents and clients get community-based care. This pilot is really our first step in identifying if a program like this will benefit the village.”
The objectives of the pilot program include de-escalating situations and providing immediate care, support and advocacy as real-time crisis intervention. Village officials also aim to promote referrals, or links to needed services and alternative care, thereby reducing recidivism or repeated situations involving the same individuals.
The effort also aims to provide follow-up and ongoing case management, diverting individuals from the criminal justice system or from being hospitalized or institutionalized, improving interactions between law enforcement and community members and increasing the percentage of calls for service responded to by Health and Human Services staff, Charley said.
During the pilot program, the Skokie Police Department and Skokie Fire Department will respond to emergency calls for service. Communications operators will then screen calls and assign a Crisis Intervention Team officer or Fire Department personnel to respond if the call relates to a behavioral or mental health crisis.
After conducting an assessment of the situation, Health and Human Services Department social work staff will be contacted if necessary to join the first-responder team on-site and assist with the response.
Extensive data will be collected and analyzed to determine if continuing the program is warranted and feasible, and if so, what adjustments might be necessary to further improve the program, according to the village.
“I definitely believe the public wants it and supports it,” said Baker. “Lots of places are demanding it.”
“We’re going to have to figure out if this is successful and has positive results, How are we going to make this work long term?” he added. “To do that you definitely need public support and we definitely have it now. I think it’s a perfect time.”
Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter.
