New program connects social worker with law enforcement
Whidbey News-TimesFeb 23, 2019
Law enforcement officers aren't social workers. But most days, they respond to multiple calls that have more to do with helping someone in a mental or behavioral health crisis than thwarting actual criminal activity.
"Law enforcement has worn many hats, and this is one of the hats they've worn forever,"
AS PART of a new program, two new hires at Island County Human Services are teaming with law enforcement agencies to provide that kind of support.
The goal is to keep what are called "high need, high utilizers" out of jail and the emergency room, which are the most expensive places for them to end up and the least helpful for people suffering from mental illness and/or substance use disorder, said
"My main goal is to provide service to those persons who are in need," said
WEST WORKS with
That's where
"They'll kind of be on the front lines," said
They'll each be referring people to other departments within human services or other agencies to provide a "cornucopia" of services, she said. Although, she worries that once the program gets going, there'll be more demand than the two people can fulfill.
ISLAND COUNTY Sheriff
This program is a huge step for a small county. Clancy and Henderson said the embedded social worker model is fairly rare for small counties and is usually done just at the city level. Snohomish and King counties have established similar programs and both have offered insight to Island County, Henderson said.
However, she knows it will likely look different in a more rural setting.
Everyone involved acknowledged the results won't be instantly visible.
"I don't see it as the solution," Felici said. "It's another tool."
West came from the state
"I think we hit a home run," Felici said of West.
She also worked at the needle exchange site on
She said the most valuable skills she gained in those positions were listening to people and creating a safe, comfortable environment.
"My goals are to help individuals reach their potential with forming a safety net, a support system, getting them the different services they need for what they want," Lindell said.
In her new position, she'll also be serving as jail transition coordinator. She'll work with inmates being released to connect them with what they need to be successful and, ideally, avoid jail in the future.
The reality is some of the people they try to help will still end up incarcerated. Felici and Dresker both said even if they want to help people get mental health help, sometimes those individuals will still be arrested. Help can't be forced upon people, so not everyone will necessarily benefit, Dresker said.
Plenty of officers and deputies have individuals they come into contact with frequently that could benefit from the type of support West and Lindell were hired to provide.
Another newcounty position, an epidemiologist, will help the department track and use data to determine the effectiveness of the program as it goes on.
Henderson hopes Island County will become a model for other rural counties to implement similar systems.
"I really just see this as the beginning of who knows what else," she said.