The City of Shelton, with community partners, will implement a pilot program to provide a new Designated Crisis Responder (DCR) to serve Shelton and the Mason County community.
The City was awarded a grant from the Association of Washington Cities and Washington State Healthcare Authority. This grant provides for an embedded DCR to work with the Shelton Police Department to receive and respond to referrals from community members, service providers, and law enforcement.
Adding DCRs within the Police Department to serve our community was recommended by the City’s Homelessness Task Force, which met earlier this year. The complete list of Task Force recommendations can be found on the City’s website and was presented to City Council at the November 22 study session.
Designated crisis responders have an integral role in Washington state’s crisis mental health system. DCRs are called to evaluate individuals who may be exhibiting signs of a behavioral health disorder/substance use disorder, which may pose as a danger to self, others, or the property of others; or who are gravely disabled and unable to care for their basic needs.
DCRs evaluate individuals to determine if legal criteria for involuntary behavioral health treatment are met. A DCR can also arrange, or refer, voluntary treatment if appropriate and feasible.
This new pilot program will increase local law enforcement efficiency and help provide referred individuals with appropriate treatment or resources.
Original source can be found here.
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