POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County is underway with the establishment of the multidisciplinary Threat Assessment and Advisory Group – the Dutchess County TAG, following approval from the county legislature.
The goal of the new group is to increase communications across prevention, treatment and response entities and to serve as a central point of information coordination about potential risks of violence to help prevent traumatic events, including loss of life, in the community.
“Mental health and crisis situations are at the forefront of our national awareness,” said County Executive Marc Molinaro. “In Dutchess County we want to stay ahead of potential tragedies and find individuals who may be on the brink of a crisis to get the help they desperately need. Our new Threat Assessment Group will bring together local agencies and community organizations to help identify potential situations that present higher risk and, in turn, protect the safety and wellbeing of our residents.”
The TAG will be comprised of mental health professionals, law enforcement and emergency response personnel, domestic violence agencies, veterans’ services, as well as representatives from the faith-based and school communities.
Its goal is to balance the safety needs of the community with the health and wellness needs of the individual exhibiting risk behaviors with a proactive response, acting as a central point of information and assessment related to threat cases. Any participating agency can bring a case with significant risk factors and warning behaviors to the TAG. The group will make recommendations with suggested interventions and case management strategies, and members can offer resources to assist with the specific case.
The county legislature’s Public Safety Committee will review Molinaro’s proposal next Thursday with the full board expected to address it on Monday, August 22.
will review the County Executive’s resolution to establish the TAG at its Public Safety Committee meeting on Thursday, August 18th and the full board is expected to vote on the resolution at the Monday, August 22nd board meeting to be held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds.
