At Connections, we believe in the power of collaboration. The partnership between first responders and our crisis response teams is central to our approach to mental health and crisis care. Our goal is not only to provide immediate support but to divert individuals in crisis from jails and correctional facilities to the treatment and care they need.

When first responders address a mental health crisis, they play a crucial role in ensuring individuals receive the necessary care. Our collaboration facilitates the process, providing a smooth transition from the crisis scene to a treatment setting, with a focus on prioritizing care over incarceration. 

Streamlined drop-off  

When individuals arrive at a Connections center in the care of first responders, they are brought to a dedicated first responder entrance for a quick, discreet transfer. This minimizes delays, allows our team to provide immediate care, and enables first responders to return to their duties with minimal downtime. 

This streamlined process ensures drop-offs are completed in under 10 minutes, reducing disruption for first responders while ensuring individuals receive timely, compassionate care. By creating an efficient transfer of care, we support first responders in their role and reinforce our commitment to respectful, effective crisis intervention. 

Immediate engagement 

Upon arrival, first responders provide details about the individual in crisis. The individual and responder are greeted by specialized team members, typically a Behavioral Health Specialist, along with additional support staff, as needed. These professionals, trained to assess immediate needs, assume custody of the individual, creating a seamless transition from custody to treatment. In several markets, Connections has established such strong partnerships with first responders, that they remove the handcuffs that may have been placed on an individual —an important gesture symbolizing our commitment to care over incarceration. This step reinforces our priority of safety and stabilization, showing that the focus is on providing support, not treating individuals as criminals. 

Compassionate crisis care 

The collaboration between first responders and our crisis response teams is a model for how communities can respond to mental health crises with care, empathy, and dignity. At Connections, we are committed to offering an alternative to the criminal justice system for individuals in crisis, guiding them toward the treatment and support they need to heal. Our team’s approach ensures that individuals are not only treated in their moment of crisis, but are empowered to build a future of recovery, hope, and resilience. 

Through the combined efforts of first responders and a specialized care team, we are creating a system of support that values treatment over incarceration, leading to better outcomes for everyone involved.