Provided by Prince William County
Prince William County Community Services (CS) and Police Department have spent the past several months developing the new Co-Responder Program. The program was approved by the Board of County Supervisors for fiscal year 2021.
This new program will be operational by the end of the calendar year and will include a response team composed of a CS Emergency Services Clinician and a Crisis Intervention Team certified police officer. While on duty, the team will respond to calls for service that involve mental health concerns. They will also conduct follow-up with residents who may need outreach assistance to connect them with appropriate services within the community.
This collaboration, which brings clinicians and police officers together, has been shown throughout the country to reduce inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations by connecting members of the community with the crisis resources and treatment they need. This is an exciting and valuable addition to the services available to Prince William County citizens. Look for additional details in the coming months.
