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The search is on for the right candidates to fill two available positions helping people in a mental health crisis.
Two licensed clinician co-responders will be part of a new program that pairs law enforcement officials with a mental health professional on calls involving citizens in need or suspected of requiring mental health services.
"The program's overall goal is to prevent people in mental health crisis from going to jail and get them connected to the resources they need," said Captain Paul Forrester with the Salina Police Department. "Once an officer has determined the situation is safe, the co-responder will provide preliminary assessment, immediate crisis resolutions, and de-escalation at the scene. They will also provide the referrals and links to community resources appropriate for the individual."
Along with reducing the burden on the criminal justice system, the program also aims to help reduce admissions to the emergency department and in-patient psychiatric units through immediate and early interventions.
"Individuals experiencing a crisis report feeling less threatened and stigmatized when working with a co-responder crisis intervention team (CIT) than compared to interaction with law enforcement alone," Shianne Davis, LMSW, Central Kansas Mental Health Center (CKMHC), Assertive Community Treatment Team Lead. "A trained clinician at the scene of a mental health crisis can make a more accurate assessment of the individual's needs and aid in the ability to keep the individual in the least restrictive environment."
The CIT co-responder will be able to provide clinical support at the scene and have the ability to review the individual's mental health and legal history. This access supports the CIT co-responder in navigating the crisis and making appropriate referrals to community resources.
"We tracked our calls for 18 months and found that we respond to, on average, two mental health crisis calls each day," explained Forrester. "There is a clear need for this program in our community, and it's imperative that we get the right people in the position."
Co-responders will work as a member of CKMHC's Crisis Service Team but will be housed at the Salina Police Department and will be required to work a flexible schedule concurrent with the Salina Police Department and Saline County Sheriff's Office shifts.
Appropriate candidates for this role will have a master's degree in social work, marriage and family therapy, psychology, professional counseling, or another human services field from an accredited college or university. They maintain professional licensure with the Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board of Kansas at a master's level. A complete list of requirements and job description can be found at the link below.
This program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act and in-kind contributions by CKMHC.
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