Community Crisis Response Team Collaboration with San Bernardino Police Department

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

In 2005, the County of San Bernardino Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) formed Community Crisis Response Teams (CCRT) in response to the reduction of staff and the closure of several DBH clinics. This resulted in more consumers with mental health concerns seeking treatment in an inpatient setting through the county hospital, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. The teams provide 24/7 mobile services, offering crisis intervention, risk assessments, referrals and linkage to community resources. A large number of consumers were brought to ARMC by the San Bernardino Police Department (SBDP), resulting in the SBPD having the highest number of WIC 5150 holds presented to ARMC Behavioral Health for inpatient care. In 2011, CCRT saw the need to collaborate with the SBPD. The goal of the collaboration was to increase the access of urgent mental health services to the residents of San Bernardino and to provide assistance to the SBPD. This partnership has proven effective; consumers experiencing a psychiatric emergency are receiving appropriate services in the least restrictive setting. SBPD Officers are utilizing CCRT’s clinical expertise and spending less time on psychiatric emergencies.