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• 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