New program in Orange County pairs up clinicians, law enforcement for mental health calls

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is ready to launch a pilot program that brings trained clinicians on calls involving people experiencing mental health crises.

Members of Orange County’s new Behavioral Response Unit will soon be seen in the field as they help deputies in a new pilot program.

READ: Florida adds over 13,100 new COVID-19 cases -- pandemic’s 2nd highest single-day increase

In partnership with Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, the co-responder model pairs clinicians with law enforcement, responding together in situations in which the clinician’s expertise can help calm situations before they escalate.

Clinicians and deputies train alongside each other in various scenarios involving people dealing with mental health, PTSD and substance abuse issues.

READ: FDA recommends EUA for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine

In Orange County, the pilot program will begin with two teams that go countywide proactively listening to calls, and ready as a secondary response in specially designed vehicles.

READ: AdventHealth doling out COVID-19 vaccines to workers as number of virus-related hospitalizations rise

Cox Media Group