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The term “community response” refers to a system of coordinated support and services for both youth and adults aimed at preventing unnecessary incarceration, hospitalization, or entry into child welfare systems. These programs use evidence-based strategies to address public safety, justice reform, community behavioral health and social needs before they escalate into emergencies.
When partnering to implement evidence-based practices (EBP) in your community, there are a number of real-world factors to consider. You might even find yourself asking, what does EBP truly look like in action? For a moment, consider these scenarios:
Law enforcement agencies are increasingly on the front lines of behavioral health crises. Teams like co-responders, CIT units, and crisis intervention specialists are responsible for bridging the gaps between public safety and behavioral health in the community—but the complexity of their work often goes unsupported even with the right tools. This article will identify some of the core reasons we believe law enforcement agencies need to be equipped with case management solutions that are specialized for community response.
Tracking the law enforcement response to mental health crises using standardized data fields is crucial improve the hidden costs associated with crisis and in supporting transformative research and evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions. Robust methods for measuring and monitoring law enforcement response often involve a combination of data collected in response to 9-1-1 calls for service, specialized field-based performance tracking, and program evaluation. General industry guidance emphasizes the importance of maintaining clearly defined and standardized data collection protocol.
