Exploring Professional Roles in a Co-Responder Program

• In Event: Innovative Approaches and Evaluations to Improving Health among Justice-involved Persons

Abstract

Traditional law enforcement responses can be harmful in situations where mental health and social services are needed. This underscores the need for programs involving collaborations between police and mental health professionals. Embedded co-responder programs, also known as police-social work programs, in which clinicians are physically located at police departments, have emerged as an alternative model for responding to violent crime and the mental health needs of community members in crisis. This study examines perspectives of detectives and clinicians who serve on an embedded co-responder team at a Florida police agency. The study explores perspectives on the professional roles of police and clinicians and the perceived impact of the co-responder program in connecting individuals to services and preventing crime. Broader implications for justice and mental health partnerships are discussed.

Authors

• Vaughn Crichlow, University of Connecticut

• Cassandra Atkin-Plunk, Florida Atlantic University