Crisis Intervention Mental Health Outreach Team (2010 LGAA)

City of White Plains (Winner)
County: Westchester County
Population: 50,000 +
City Hall: (914) 422-6222

White Plains Public Safety is responsible for the safety of 57,000 residents plus 200,000 "day residents" that come to the city for employment, health care, education, and county services. It is reasonable to estimate that on any given day in White Plains, there may be 7,000 persons with mental illnesses.

Over-representation of people with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders in the judicial system is concerning. White Plains was committed to finding a beneficial and impactful response. White Plains Public Safety and Westchester County Mental Health innovatively responded to a population burdened with mental illness that faces criminal justice or social service systems through the creation of a Crisis Intervention Mental Health Outreach Team. The team includes a Social Worker, Police Officer, and Detective. The mission: proactively engage persons in need of services. This team is the first responders, crafting meaningful responses at the scene, resulting in immediate evaluations and treatment.

The team has facilitated evaluations, engaged persons in treatment and reduced incidents of street violence. Since 2006, there has been a 300% increase in the number of outreach efforts. Additionally, police officer injuries, use of force incidents, and civilian complaints have decreased. The team diffuses potentially violent encounters and reduces the often-resulting Resisting Arrest charge. The team also partners with social services to facilitate access to services and promote cross-system participation to successfully attain services, reducing recidivism and ultimately aiding individual recovery. Referrals connect people with services, address case management issues, and facilitate psychiatric evaluations. Additionally, alternatives to arrest and prosecution are identified for chronic offenders. Referrals have increased from 126 clients in 2006 to 275 in 2009. Calls regarding emotionally disturbed persons have been reduced from 299 in 2006 to 248 in 2009. Homeless street encounters have been reduced from 150 incidents in 2008 to 90 in 2009, a direct result of connecting clients to services and shelters. The results are a healthier population, a healthier city as well as substantial cost and time savings of city and county resources.

Municipalities throughout Westchester County have seen the results of this street-level initiative that has improved the quality of life for all residents, workers, and visitors to White Plains. This team has been an integral component of the reduction in crime that has taken place in White Plains. The Yonkers Police Department has instituted a program modeled after this White Plains-Westchester County collaboration, and other communities have expressed an interest in doing the same.