Franklin County calls for National Co-Responder and Crisis Responder Week

The Franklin County Commissioners have officially declared the week of September 15, 2024, as National Co-Responder and Crisis Responder Week. The commissioners are urging residents to recognize the critical role these professionals play in moving individuals experiencing mental health crises away from the criminal justice system and into community-based support services.

Mental health problems often have negative consequences, such as homelessness, frequent contact with the police, jail stays, and emergency room visits. These scenarios are costly to the community and harmful to the individual compared to timely interventions by local mental health services.

To address these concerns, Franklin County created the Mental Health Co-Responder Program. This program integrates mental health professionals with law enforcement, enabling a collaborative response to individuals in crisis. The goal is to avoid arrests, emergency room visits, and repeat calls to emergency services by connecting individuals with the right resources at the right time.

Since their inception in May 2017, co-responders from the Chambersburg, Greencastle, Washington Township and Waynesboro police departments have assisted over 2,300 individuals in more than 11,000 contacts. Notably, 89% of those individuals had no further contact with law enforcement. In 2023, a third co-responder position was added to the program, supported by funding from a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency and ongoing support from the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse and local police departments.

Co-responders work with their respective law enforcement agencies and other county agencies, such as emergency services, adult and juvenile probation, the Franklin County Jail, Keystone Health and various social service agencies.

Franklin County County Commissioner Dean Horst highlighted the success of the program, stating, “The Co-Responder Program has had a positive impact on our communities by preventing residents with mental health issues from entering the criminal justice system. Thanks to our co-responders and crisis responders, individuals are able to access mental health resources, allowing law enforcement to focus on other areas of public safety.”

By recognizing National Co-Responder and Crisis Responder Week, Franklin County Commissioners want to encourage residents to appreciate the services of these professionals who ease the burden on the criminal justice system and provide critical resources to those in need.

For crisis assistance, help is available 24/7 through the Keystone Health Crisis Intervention Program at 717-264-2555 or by visiting WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital. Additional help is available by calling or texting the National Suicide Lifeline at 988.

Photo credit to Franklin County, Pennsylvania