A year ago, Walworth County launched its Embedded Crisis Liaison Program, which is designed to put mental health resources on site at the most critical call times for area law enforcement.
Now, in light of the program’s success, availability will expand, with critical crisis liaisons located at the Walworth County Sheriff’s Department and at four area police departments – Whitewater, Lake Geneva, Delavan and Darien.
“I think it’s indicative of two things – there’s still such a great need in the community for crisis mental health services,” Walworth County Health and Human Service Deputy Director Trista Piccola said. “One of the most critical pieces is to be available at the time something is happening.
“Also, even in moments where the police have gone out on something, there is opportunity to follow up on something,” she added.
The current liaisons are Araceli Wence (Whitewater), Emily Vierling (Walworth County Sheriff), Melissa Geurtsen (Delavan and Darien area) and Amanda Akridge (Lake Geneva).
The program is overseen by Sonia Hill, the CCL supervisor, and Katie Rannow, CCL case manager.
With Rannow stepping up as case manager, Piccola said it allows the department to address issues that go beyond the immediate law enforcement response.
“One of the things we discovered through the pilot is that some of the people needed longer-term follow-up,” she said, adding that Rannow’s position now allows for that.
The program’s goal is to provide additional resources for law enforcement while dealing with individuals suffering from mental health crises.
Piccola said that law enforcement personnel are not trained mental health experts, and therefore, the liaisons can help mitigate a crisis.
“So much of what law enforcement is trying to deal with requires not a criminal response, but a mental health response,” she said.
The liaisons go on applicable calls with police, who secure the scene before deciding when it’s appropriate to hand things over to the crisis liaison.
Piccola said the hope is that this immediate, on-scene response will continue to provide better outcomes for residents in need while providing police with better support.
She added that the liaisons were out on hundreds of calls last year.
“They were out daily with law enforcement,” Piccola said. “Being embedded in the agency allows them to be very visible there.”
The HHS department coordinates with law enforcement through the liaisons to decide who needs additional care and if the response of providing a liaison was appropriate.
“Are they going out on the right kind of calls, and are there follow-up services needed?” Piccola said. “That is the data we are looking at now.”
Piccola said that additional liaisons may be added to the list as further study of the data takes place.
“It’s still very much in its infancy,” she said of the program. “We want to continue monitoring this over the next year.”
