Badges and Behavior Talk Co-Responder Programs and More!

Today’s Brief:

• Mille Lacs County Co-Response Program (5-minute read)

• Montana’s Mental Health Crisis (4-minute read)

• Behavioral Health’s Biggest Federal Investments (6-minute read)

• Bonus: Sundance Film Festival Venture into Mental Health Care (1-minute read)

Mille Lacs County's co-responder program, led by Jessi Noehring and therapy dog Rufus, is transforming how mental health calls are handled. Noehring responds to crisis situations, offering resources and support services to those in need. Funded by opioid settlement money, the program aims to connect individuals with appropriate services. Noehring's role as a co-responder has been instrumental in bridging the gap between law enforcement and mental health services, providing much-needed support to those in crisis. With Rufus by her side, Noehring is breaking down barriers and changing lives in the community.

Julota empowers smarter crisis responses by simplifying and streamlining Law Enforcement and Behavioral Health programs. By integrating hospital, EMS, and social services data into a centralized platform, it enables seamless, secure, and HIPAA-compliant collaboration. Automated reporting ensures compliance, while customizable workflows address community-specific needs. With actionable insights, teams can improve outcomes and secure greater funding, making Julota the only software purpose-built to bridge law enforcement and behavioral health with compassion and efficiency.

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Montana ranks 50th out of 51 in adult mental health care, with limited access to services leading to individuals in crisis being taken to county jails or emergency departments ill-equipped to handle their needs. Gallatin County has revamped its behavioral health crisis response system, evolving the Co-Responder Program into the Gallatin County mobile crisis response team.

By focusing on proper identification of mental health calls, building trusted partnerships, developing creative solutions, and leveraging data, the team has achieved faster response times, reduced law enforcement time on behavioral health calls, and better outcomes for individuals in crisis. The team's data-driven approach has led to significant improvements, including a 77% reduction in law enforcement time spent on mental health calls and an 86% success rate in keeping individuals in the community, diverting them from jails or emergency departments. The team continues to work towards securing additional funding for long-term sustainability and expanding the reach of mobile crisis teams to underserved rural communities in Montana.

Springfield police officers are set to be joined by mental health professionals on calls as part of a new co-responder program, following the shooting death of Sonya Massey. The program, recommended by the Massey commission, aims to improve response to mental health-related calls by utilizing computer programs to guide 911 operators. However, county officials are questioning the implementation of the program, particularly in cases where mental health support may not be immediately apparent. Despite challenges, Director for 911 Chris Mueller hopes to have the program operational by the end of March, with more recommendations from the commission expected soon.

Huntsman Mental Health Institute Provides Support at Sundance Film Festival

Huntsman Mental Health Institute counselors offer support to Sundance Film Festival attendees experiencing intense emotions while watching movies.