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ECSO Receives $549K Grant For Mental Health Services
October 20, 2022
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office has received a $549,000 mental health grant.
The grant will fund three deputies that will work with mental health clinicians from Lakeview Center, forming two co-responder teams. The teams will work alongside mental health professionals for mental health-related calls, and to provide immediate care and resources for community members in their time of need.
This will not only provide individuals with mental health-specific responses, but it will also free patrol deputies to answer other calls for service, according to the ECSO.
The Sheriff’s Office applied for the grant earlier this year as part of ECSO Mental Health Wellness Unit, led by Colonel Mindy Von Ansbach Young. The unit provides support to employees at the ECSO and works in conjunction with local mental health providers. The co-responder unit is the latest addition to the ECSO’s mental health initiatives.
“Utilizing crisis-based services in combination with law enforcement responses will expedite care and minimize the likelihood of law enforcement arrests, baker acts, and marchman acts,” Young said.
The $549,000 will not only be used to train deputies but will also fund the employees’ salaries for three years.
Comments
6 Responses to “ECSO Receives $549K Grant For Mental Health Services”
This is much needed funding..Hopefully it will go to people who seriously have mental issues. NOT the drug addicts that use the system to stay out of jail.
There – Look at those people over there.
Their – We asked them if their dog bites.
They’re – They’re going to let us walk their dog.
Any funding for mental health in Escambia County is a good thing. I wish there was even more funding. Please note, the police and mental health providers who encounter people in crisis/emergency are agents of the legal system. They cite the laws. It is not there job to commit anyone, but rather hand off persons in trouble so they can be detained, evaluated, and offered treatment. Encountering police is the first step in a process. Yes, the system definitely has its flaws; some people are let go after 72 hours, but many will be kept for 4-5 days and weeks if necessary.
When are we going to do something about road rage?
Treating the existing inmates will take time for the deputies to learn if of mental health issues and if inmates truly need counseling or medication.
On the streets, there are just mean people acting out as they have mental problems.
This is a good idea, but until they have the legal tools to commit patients for treatment for longer than 72 hours, the end result will not change.