Program Development

• Acquiring funds: compelling arguments in favor of the need for a co-responder program.

• Enhanced programatic success through better communication and goal clarification during program design.

• Smoother, faster launch; why re-invent the wheel?

• Improved future funding options through clear and concise program design and implementation.

• Well-thought-out policies and procedures, reducing stress and the need for improvisation under pressure.

• Emergency preparedness—it should be rare that your staff are caught by surprise (even though those incredibly rare situations happen almost every day).

• More safety, staff satisfaction, and community acceptance through on-going support after launch.

 

Speaking Engagements

• Improved partner relations through understanding of the complexities and limitations among emergency community partners, especially law enforcement. What we often expect of our law enforcement partners is not fair, or realistic.

• Clear understanding of the out-of-balance responsibility law enforcement carries for mental health under the existing model.

• Deeper compassion for mentally ill community members—and for law enforcement.

• Inspiration and clear steps to maintain clinical excellence in a changing world--it can be done.

• Clear and concise presentations to demonstrate why co-responder programs are needed, everywhere.

 

Training

• Improved community attitude toward law enforcement through more compassionate interactions from law enforcement toward community members with behavioral issues.

• Reduced tension on the job via greater compassion from mental health and other partners in the community toward law enforcement.

• Reduced costs and risk on the street and in the ER through decrease in defensive level-of-care decision-making.

• Faster resolution through role clarification (we mental health workers are more inclined to see ourselves as therapists--in this role, we are interventionists).

• Time and money saved by learning to build immediate trust and rapport

• Reduced usage of emergency services by high utilizers.

• Improved community reputation for law enforcement through job-relevant mental health training. 

• Safer staff on-the-job: enhanced personal safety when working in police-mental health collaboration through careful training and policy development.