Village Approves $250K Grant For Crisis Co-Responder Team

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — The Arlington Heights Village Board recently approved a resolution accepting a United States Department of Justice — Office of Community Oriented Policing grant for the implementation of a Crisis Co-Responder Team. This award allows the Village to enter into an agreement with AMITA Health and embed a counselor within the Arlington Heights Police Department.

A crisis counselor will be available to assist police during calls for service where an individual may be experiencing a mental health crisis, according to a news release from the police department. This new initiative will be made available to the Arlington Heights community beginning on March 14.

The grant award is for $250,000 and will fund the program over a two-year period. A majority
of the funds are allocated for personnel costs related to the crisis counselors (1 full-time and 1
part-time). Remaining funds will be used to train police officers on the new program and
evolving best practices when interacting with someone experiencing a mental health crisis.

“This collaborative Crisis Co-Responder program teams responding officers and a crisis counselor during incidents where individuals who may be experiencing a mental health crisis are most vulnerable," Chief of PoliceNicholas A. Pecora, Jr. said. "De-escalation and, when appropriate, timely access to treatment can provide the greatest chance of success for a person in crisis. We look forward to a continuing partnership with AMITA and building upon a prior positive alliance with their network of mental health providers and treatment services within our community.”

Counseling staff will typically be available during late afternoon and evening hours when call
volume has historically presented the greatest need for crisis intervention, according to the news release. Police officers will remain the primary first responders to applicable mental health related
CFS. However, when an officer determines a person involved may benefit from specialized
intervention, the officer will request a counselor respond to offer mental health focused
services.

The crisis counselor will conduct an assessment and navigate the individual to
treatment options that are best suited for their circumstance. Even though they will only be
available for immediate response during specific hours, a crisis counselor may conduct
outreach on cases referred to them by a responding officer as well as proactively engage with
the community. The ultimate goal of the program is to connect people to community-based
mental health services, improve the experiences and outcomes of persons in crisis and
promote a greater sense of community well-being.

Discussions regarding this type of program originated in August 2020, according to the news release. The Police Department acknowledged a need to proactively address an emerging mental health crisis that was growing prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and thereby further enhance community trust.

A partnership with AMITA was a natural fit as they have had a presence within our
community for several decades. Staff from the Police Department and AMITA drafted an
innovative proposal that was submitted and ultimately selected through a highly competitive
grant application process.

Implementing this additional community resource supplements and reinforces an existing
support network currently available through the Village’s Health and Human Services
Department social services staff, Fire Department Emergency Medical Services and the Police
Department Victim Services Coordinator.

More information on the CCRT program will be posted on the Village’s website, www.vah.com.