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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.
Law enforcement agencies are increasingly seeking evidence-based alternatives to costly incarceration and hospitalization outcomes. As part of this shift, many departments are turning to deflection programs to intervene earlier and connect individuals to supportive services.
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:
Field observations recorded as contact notes provide the most predictive data for future calls for service, behavioral health crises, and public safety risks. Whether robustly collected at an initial contact or compiled across repeated interactions, field-contact notes offer critical details for harm reduction, de-escalation, diversion, referral, and case planning.
