Mental Health Court, Jail In-Reach and Co-Responder Programs

Inside the Bibb LEC, the protocol or procedure for someone exhibiting significant mental health symptoms starts with identification during the jail intake process. Documentation of the behavior or reported diagnosis is logged into the electronic record system by Correct Health staff that work within the jail. A referral to River Edge’s Jail In-Reach Program, as the behavioral health provider, is then made. Our River Edge Jail In-Reach staff, which includes a Director, Nurse Practitioner, clinician, group facilitator, case manager and clerk work within the jail daily. The Jail In-Reach clinician conducts comprehensive clinical assessments and behavioral health screens as a part of crisis intervention, identify individual needs, provide diagnoses of substance use and/or mental health disorders, assess individual risk for suicide and other safety related concerns; determine the need for inpatient or outpatient psychiatric treatment and supports, refer to a psychiatric nurse practitioner and provide follow-up counseling. The case manager provides referrals, and communicate relevant information to officers, families, and treatment providers. If more intensive care is necessary, a referral to external services is made. Individuals also have the ability to request a visit from the behavioral health staff. Referrals by jail and medical staff who observe a mental health concern that may not have been displayed during intake are also made post-intake for individuals within the jail.

River Edge provides services to individuals experiencing mental health symptoms through an array of services, such as crisis stabilization, outpatient services, Assertive Community Treatment, intensive case management, co-responder and Jail In-Reach services. As a service of the Jail In-Reach program, a mental health referral is received, our team schedules a day to see the individual for assessment and subsequent services follow. We work closely with the personnel of the Bibb Law Enforcement Center (LEC) to gain access to individuals for behavioral health care. Through the Co-Responder Program pairs the Macon-Bibb County Sheriff’s Office (“Sheriff’s Office”) and River Edge Behavioral Health (“River Edge”) to respond to behavioral health-related calls for service. This model utilizes the combined expertise of the Sheriff’s Office and River Edge specialists to de-escalate situations and help link people with behavioral health issues to appropriate services.  

Individuals in the Bibb LEC remain in the custody of the Bibb LEC, so they are not released to the care of River Edge. While an individual is in custody, the Sherriff’s Office would provide a referral to the River Edge team members to make contact with an individual in order to proceed with a behavioral health assessment and subsequent services. Once an individual is cleared for release from the jail, they can begin services at the appropriate River Edge location for ongoing services.  Again, if more intensive care is necessary, a referral to external services, such as a state hospital is made.

a.    River Edge and the Sheriff's Department have a current partnership to address the mental health needs of individuals both in the jail and in the community. Through open lines of communication, notification and referrals, River Edge and the Sheriff’s Department work together to address mental health concerns of individuals encountered in the Bibb LEC through the Jail In-Reach program process. If an individual is exhibiting crisis level symptoms, beyond the general symptomology of their diagnosis, or is failing to maintain well-being while in custody, a referral for a higher level of care is made. 

b.    In the community, the Co-Responder Program pairs the Macon-Bibb County Sheriff’s Office (“Sheriff’s Office”) and River Edge Behavioral Health (“River Edge”) to respond to behavioral health-related calls for service. This model utilizes the combined expertise of the Sheriff’s Office and River Edge specialists to de-escalate situations and help link people with behavioral health issues to appropriate services.  Specially trained, these individuals de-escalate situations and assist law enforcement with situations involving people who are experiencing a crisis. It is a collaborative response that seeks to reduce harm and facilitate alternatives to arrest.

The Sheriff’s Department Respond to mental health crisis calls along with a clinician as a team approach screening, review and follow-up on reports and emails received from officers. River Edge crisis specialists respond to calls on the scene, when appropriate, and handle calls collaboratively.  River Edge crisis specialists will dispatch to the scene.  At the core, this approach a Sheriff’s officer and a River Edge crisis specialist or substance abuse professional will respond jointly to situations in which a behavioral health crisis is likely to be involved, arriving on scene at generally the same time. On scene, the team works not only to de-escalate the situation, but also provide behavioral health screening and assessment, call disposition planning and referral or linkage to needed services.  

Individuals receive specialized treatment plans with the goal of stabilizing mental health and substance abuse symptoms to promote recovery wellness and sustained community integration. Individuals are referred and connected to appropriate medical, behavioral health, housing, and other needed community resources. The planning at the end of the encounter depends on a number of unique factors. Outcomes range from leaving the individual with necessary resources, transporting the individual to a hospital or the CSC, and providing support and resources for family members and others on-scene. During the encounter, the co-responder utilizes skills of Mental Health First Aid, Crisis Intervention and Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics.