Fairfax County’s Winter Initiative is currently focusing on suicide prevention and youth mental health through specialized training and the expansion of its Co-Responder Program. By pairing CIT-trained officers with clinicians, the county aims to stabilize crises on-scene, reduce hospitalizations, and ensure that calling 9-1-1 results in support rather than legal trouble.

The Marseilles Police Department is expanding its Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) by training more officers to handle mental health emergencies with specialized de-escalation techniques. This initiative aims to improve safety for both the community and responders by ensuring that individuals in crisis receive immediate support and connection to professional resources.

The St. Cloud Police Department’s Co-Responder program has secured its future through a new three-year funding agreement totaling over $667,000. This initiative pairs police officers with mental health professionals to respond directly to calls involving individuals in behavioral or emotional distress. By providing immediate clinical intervention on-site, the team works to de-escalate volatile situations and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations or arrests. Beyond the initial emergency response, the program emphasizes follow-up care to connect residents with long-term social services and mental health resources. Local officials believe this collaborative approach is essential for reducing the cycle of repeat emergency calls and improving overall community safety.

The Peoria Police Department’s Social Services Unit (SSU), a co-responder partnership with Carle Health’s Trillium Place, has significantly expanded its operations following a $2.9 million state grant. The unit pairs licensed clinical social workers with officers to provide immediate de-escalation, mental health support, and victim advocacy directly at the scene of emergencies. Beyond initial crisis intervention, the program emphasizes long-term case management to connect families with housing relocation and essential social services. This "proof of concept" phase has already seen success in handling high-risk incidents, such as barricaded subjects, without resorting to arrest or hospitalization. As the program grows, officials are working to hire more clinicians to ensure 24/7 availability and broader community coverage.