Baltimore City Wire

Mayor Brandon M. Scott was joined by behavioral health specialists and clinical and community-based partners to provide an update on the 9-1-1 Diversion Behavioral Health Pilot program launched in June 2021 and share plans for program expansion. Baltimore has served as a national leader as a jurisdiction, working to divert certain 9-1-1 calls to community partners and behavioral health specialists.

When 9-1-1 call takers identify a call as appropriate for diversion they transfer the call to the Here2Help line, a mental health services line operated by Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc. (BCRI) and staffed by trained mental health clinicians. Here2Help can resolve calls over the phone or dispatch a team of clinician responders. The pilot program began by diverting two suicidal ideation call types, and through the quality assurance process, in April 2022, the program expanded to include a third similar call type.

"Defining what policing looks like for a community is one of the most consequential decisions any local government can make. Clearly, the status quo solutions for policing, public safety, and addressing the needs of those experiencing behavioral health crises are not providing the best outcomes for our residents," said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. "This critical program is part of a vision for a system of care that prevents people from having unnecessary contact with the police and diverts them into services and resources that will appropriately meet their needs. I am sincerely grateful for the support provided by Senator Van Hollen and the partnership of Behavioral Health System Baltimore and Baltimore Crisis Response, Inc. to ensure this essential initiative is sustained."

The central mission of this pilot program is to match individuals to the most appropriate and available resources when they call for assistance and reduce unnecessary police encounters with people in behavioral crises. This approach aligns with federal guidance, evolving best practices, and the requirements of our consent decree and demonstrates a commitment to addressing gaps in our public behavioral health system. U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen has been an advocate nationally for 9-1-1 diversion and brought a $2 million federal investment home earlier this year to expand this pilot program.

Original source can be found  here.