Mental Health Training for the Emergency Services Dispatcher

WHY IS THE TRAINING BEING DEVELOPED? New York State / New York City Mental Health – Criminal Justice Panel Report (6/08) Collaboration between DOS, OMH, DCJS, NYPD, Chiefs of Police Association, Sheriffs’ Association, 911 Coordinators Association, Mental Hygiene Directors Association.

WHY IS MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING IMPORTANT TO DISPATCHERS? Encounters account for a significant percentage of law enforcement contacts Maximize safety Use judgment effectively

GOAL – TO PREPARE DISPATCHERS TO: Identify emotionally disturbed persons and mentally ill persons Handle situations involving them safely and effectively

PRINCIPLES OF THIS TRAINING Well-trained dispatchers can effectively assist in the response to an EDP Effective police response can assist a person with mental illness in his/her recovery Effective police response may assist in diverting a person with mental illness from the criminal justice system, when appropriate

WORK GROUP MEMBERS Anthony Russo – NYPD Molly Bates – DCJS Donald Fischer – DOS OFPC Joseph Grube – Sheriff’s Assoc. Cattaraugus Co. S.O. Vincent Guerriera – NYPD Paul LeBlanc – Mental Hygiene Dir. Assoc. Dr. Liwen Lee – OMH Jerry Miller – DCJS Andrew Pohl – DOS OFPC Anthony Russo – NYPD Margaret Ryan – Chief’s Assoc. Dryden P.D. Marilyn Schrader – DOS OFPC Sandra Smith – 9-1-1 Coordinators Assoc. Yates Co. Mark Spawn – Chief’s Assoc. Rachel Vandeusen – NYSP Anne Zweiman – NYC DMH

THE PROCESS The work group met on 9/30 & 10/1 at DCJS A review of the current curriculum was presented by DOS – OFPC The work group members felt that an update and an enhancement of Section 05 – Telephone of the Emergency Services Dispatch course (slides 89 – 121) would meet the objective of the Panel Report.

TRAINING MODULES Module 1 – Background on Mental Illness and the relationship to the C.J. community Module 2 – What is a Crisis Intervention Team Module 3 – Mentally Ill vs. Emotionally Disturbed

TRAINING MODULES Module 4 – Categories of Mental Illness Module 5 – Indicators of Mental Illness Module 6 – Communication Skills for calls for service related to Mentally Ill and Emotionally Disturbed individuals

LEARNING OBJECTIVES Learning Objectives.doc

QUESTIONS ?

CONTACT INFORMATION Jerry Miller NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services Office of Public Safety 4 Tower Place, Albany NY 12203 518.485.7594 gerard.miller@dcjs.state.ny.us