1. Mental Health Training for the Emergency Services Dispatcher

2. 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.

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

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

5. 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

6. 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 – Coordinators Assoc. Yates Co.
Mark Spawn – Chief’s Assoc.
Rachel Vandeusen – NYSP
Anne Zweiman – NYC DMH

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Learning Objectives.doc

11. QUESTIONS ?

12. CONTACT INFORMATION
Jerry Miller
NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services
Office of Public Safety
4 Tower Place, Albany NY 12203