Aurora, Colo.-based UCHealth has expanded its co-response program, which pairs behavioral health clinicians with law enforcement to help officers respond to behavioral health crises.
The health system launched its first-ever co-responder program in northern Colorado in 2018 and has expanded partnerships to police departments in Fountain, Aurora, Palmer Lake, Manitou Springs and El Paso County. A separate mental health response team now works with the Routt County Sheriff’s Office, according to an Oct. 2 report.
Each co-responder has advanced training in crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques. Patrick Drossel, one of two UCHealth therapists working with the Fountain Police Department, teams up with police officer Jacob Gonzales. The collaboration helps connect people in crisis to community resources such as job assistance, food programs and child care, Mr. Gonzales said.
“Sometimes I hit a wall in my capacity as a police officer,” he said. “Sometimes it’s hard for us to break away from the law enforcement lens because the way we go about things is different. Our expertise is different. How someone treats me vs. Patrick is different.”
The partnership also allows police to reach individuals who might hesitate to engage with law enforcement alone, Mr. Gonzales said. After each call, Mr. Drossel completes an evaluation that guides UCHealth’s care teams in following up with individuals for ongoing behavioral health support, according to the report.
