POUGHKEEPSIE – MHA Dutchess is providing contract services to Dutchess County for a Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) tasked with responding to mental health emergencies in the county. The program and its response team are being lauded by City of Poughkeepsie Police Chief Tom Pape and others.
The service is run out of a small office in Poughkeepsie and is tasked with trained mental health professionals that can respond to requests for assistance from police agencies and anyone calling the crisis center at 845-372-5500 for situations in which a person needs help with emotional or mental issues, including thoughts of suicide. The team is making its resources available to all law enforcement agencies in the county, including the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office.
The team met with Chief Pape, State Senator Sue Serino, and county leaders on Tuesday to provide a tour of their renovated office and an overview of the technology they are using to monitor calls for service throughout the county.
Dutchess County Commissioner of Emergency Response, Dana Smith noted that the MCT and the county 911 center are working together. 911 will transfer calls right to the helpline at 845-485-9700 for a seamless transition for those that need services, Smith noted. “Working with the MCT, we can send the most appropriate resources to an emergency in a timely fashion without tying up overburdened ambulance services in the county.”
Chief Pape told the MCT workers that his officers have been very receptive to the new service. “We have nothing but praise for what you are doing here,” Pape told the staff. “What used to be a non-existent service now takes about five minutes (in Poughkeepsie) on the long side for the team to respond to our call for help.” The chief did indicate that he has heard one recurring issue from his officers. “The only complaint I have received from my cops is that your service isn’t available 24 hours a day,” but noted “The service is fantastic even when you don’t respond but may just help our officers over the phone. It’s a great service.”
Senator Serino was elated with the new service that has been developed over the past nine months. “Having lost my brother to suicide, I know first-hand how important it is to exercise every tool available to help effectively support anyone experiencing a mental health challenge, and after the pandemic year we’ve all experienced, mobile health crisis teams have never been more important. They meet our neighbors in crisis where they are, help diffuse difficult situations and provide critical services in their most vulnerable moments. We are grateful for their work and have a duty to ensure that it’s able to continue during this tough time.”
Prior to the pandemic, Dutchess County partnered with MHA Dutchess for the MCT. The county also partnered with People USA to manage the county’s Stabilization Center. Both arrangements, according to Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro were part of an initiative to empower community partners. The county worked with MHA Dutchess CEO Andrew O’Grady to get the new MCT program up and running in a timely manner. “It’s pretty amazing that we were able to have pulled such a great program together in nine months,” O’Grady said.
“We launched the Mobile Crisis Team in 2012 as part of our reorganization of mental health services. Now, a partnership with MHA, and integrated into our emergency response structure we are able to meet people where they are, support responders, and save lives,” said Molinaro. ” The Team is a critical part of our nation-leading mental health network. From our 24/7 Helpline to our crisis intervention and mental health first aid training, from our trauma team to the only Stabilization Center of its kind in America – we continue reaching out, supporting those in need, and saving lives.”
