5 Co-Responder Programs Setting the Standard

Today’s Brief:

• Co-Responder Briefs

• UNC Health Pardee Broadens Mental Health Reach with New Pardee BlueMD Behavioral Health

• Grant Powers NY Program Aimed at Reforming Offender Behavior

• Social Briefs

  Total Read Time: 5 minutes

👮Co-Responder Briefs

🧠 New in Crisis Response: UNT Launches Innovative Co-Responder Program

The University of North Texas has unveiled a forward-thinking Co-Responder Program that pairs police officers with trained mental health professionals to handle crisis calls together. The initiative aims to de-escalate situations, connect people with services on the spot, and reduce unnecessary arrests or hospital transports, a major step toward compassionate, data-driven public safety.

🤝 Inside Peoria’s One-of-a-Kind Co-Responder Model

Peoria’s Police Department and Trillium Place are redefining response to mental health crises with a new team of licensed clinical social workers who ride alongside officers. The program’s goal is simple: provide immediate mental health care where it’s needed most, easing the burden on law enforcement while improving community outcomes.

5 Examples of Successful Co-Responder Programs

1. Douglas County, CO: Co-response teams cut unnecessary hospital and jail transports, saving nearly $5 million in two years.

2. Johnson County, KS: Embeds licensed mental health professionals with law enforcement to handle crises and ensure follow-up care.

3. Omaha, NE: Behavioral Health & Wellness team leads on mental health calls and connects people to ongoing services.

4. Gainesville, FL: Diverted ~89% of encounters from arrest and saved $240K in the first year.

5. Chapel Hill, NC: Long-running model combining police, clinicians, and peer specialists for crisis response since 1973.

UNC Health Pardee Broadens Mental Health Reach with New Pardee BlueMD Behavioral Health

UNC Health Pardee has launched Pardee BlueMD Behavioral Health, a new outpatient service offering mental health care for children, adolescents, and adults at multiple locations in Hendersonville, Asheville, and Brevard. The team includes a licensed psychologist and board-certified psychiatrists, providing screenings, therapy, assessments, and medication management, no referral required.

The expansion aims to meet rising demand locally, offering both acute support and long-term care close to home. Patients and families can access help for conditions like depression, anxiety, and substance use, with new patient appointments now available. The program underscores Pardee’s commitment to integrated, accessible behavioral health in the region.

Grant Powers NY Program Aimed at Reforming Offender Behavior

In New York’s North Country, Behavioral Health Services North, an initiative that provides mental health support to individuals involved in the criminal justice system, has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Clinton County Public Defender’s Office. The funding will help about ten people who otherwise couldn’t afford to participate in the program, allowing them to access services designed to change harmful habits and reduce recidivism. The program emphasizes accountability and behavioral change to ease pressure on courts, law enforcement, and community resources. Last year alone, 34 residents of Clinton County completed the eight-month course.