Submitted By
Kira Tchang, Assistant Village Manager/HR Director
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Presentation and Discussion of Alternative Response to Calls for Service Phase 2
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Overview
Overview
Alternative Response to Calls for Service is a program designed to address the evolving community safety needs of the Village by providing an alternative response to calls for service beyond traditional Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services personnel. The Village Board of Trustees adopted Phase 1 of the Village’s Alternative Response program on June 11, 2024, which focuses on providing an unarmed response to calls for service that may be unrelated to a mental or behavioral health crisis, follow-up care for calls for service with a mental or behavioral health component and rapid response to issued related to unhoused residents, traumatic community events, and other community needs with a mental or behavioral health component. The goal of Phase 2 of the Alternative Response program is to limit police involvement with 911 calls for service seeking mental and behavioral health support in alignment with the Community Emergency Services and Support Act (CESSA), the BerryDunn Community Safety Study, and the Village Manager’s Alternative Response Task Force for Mental Health Crisis.
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Anticipated Actions/Commitments
Recommendation
Following the Village Board of Trustee discussion, staff will bring back a motion to adopt Phase 2 of an Alternative Response to Calls for Service Pilot Program.
Report
Staff first presented an Alternative Response to Calls for Service model on April 30, 2024. This model included four primary components:
1) Community Response Team for low-risk mental or behavioral health-related calls for service which would include mental health clinicians and peer support specialists with traditional first responders.
2) Co-Response Team for high-risk mental or behavioral health-related calls for service which would include licensed clinicians with traditional first responders.
3) Community Care Navigation for follow-up to mental or behavioral health-related calls for service and rapid response to calls for service related to unhoused community members, traumatic community events, or other needs requiring mental and behavioral health expertise.
4) Service Response for low-risk calls for service that do not have a mental or behavioral health-related component and do not require an armed officer to respond.
Following feedback on April 30, 2024, staff brought back a recommendation to adopt Phase 1 of the program which focuses on Community Care Navigation and Service Response. The Village Board adopted Phase 1 on June 11, 2024.
Additionally, based on the Board’s feedback, staff have worked closely with Thrive Counseling Center, the Village’s current crisis-response partner, to develop a Thrive-led model that would meet the needs of the community in alignment with the goals of the Board and the municipal organization.
The attached presentation focuses on an analysis of a Village-led model and a Thrive-led model, with opportunities for potential alternative hybrid models.
Following the Board’s study session, the Village Manager will reconvene the Alternative Response Task Force for Mental Health Crisis (taskforce) to provide an update regarding the program to date and solicit taskforce feedback in advance of a recommendation.
DEI Impact
One of the goals of the Village’s Alternative Response to Calls for Service program is to reduce law enforcement interaction with community members who are experiencing mental or behavioral health crises. A traditional law enforcement response has a disproportionate effect on marginalized communities, including people of color or lower socio-economic status. An alternative response can mitigate the disparity by providing appropriate and culturally sensitive support. This support may come in the form of mental health clinicians or through peer support specialists who have lived experience with mental health or substance use challenges.
Alternatives
Staff are presenting five options for the Board’s consideration regarding Alternative Response to Calls for Service Phase 2 including a Village-led model, a Thrive-led model, and three hybrid options.