Did you know there is a program in Lone Tree that provides support to adults and youth experiencing a mental health crisis?
Your Lone Tree Police Department and Douglas County have established a Community Response Team (CRT) that leverages the strength of your police department and your County Government to offer a coordinated response to mental health emergencies, not only addressing an individual’s immediate needs, but also promoting long-term mental health and well-being in the Lone Tree community.
This all began in 2014, when the Douglas County Mental Health Initiative (DCMHI) was established in response to several tragic mental health-related incidents. The Initiative united more than 40 community partners to address unmet mental health needs, connect people to mental health services and prevent those in need from falling through the cracks of the mental health system. As part of this pioneering effort to address mental health crises in the County, the DCMHI introduced the first Community Response Team (CRT) in 2017. The DCMHI was established to unite community partners, address unmet mental health needs, connect people to mental health services and prevent those in need from falling through the cracks of the mental health system.
The CRT program consists of 9 teams, 2 of which are specialized youth response teams, and is a partnership of the Douglas County government and all law enforcement agencies within the county as well as South Metro Fire and Rescue and Castle Rock Fire and Rescue. One CRT is based in Lone Tree, but all teams have jurisdiction to respond to calls throughout the county which maximizes CRT coverage and service. These teams pair a full-time, dedicated law enforcement officer with a mental health clinician who ride together 40-hours a week, responding to mental and behavioral health emergencies. Additionally, each team has a dedicated Resource Specialist that facilitates connection to appropriate and accessible resources after the initial crisis has passed. The CRT program aims to help individuals experiencing a mental or behavioral health crisis avoid going to jail or the ER unnecessarily and instead connect them with the appropriate treatment and services.
Service calls for CRTs in Lone Tree and other jurisdictions of the county are generated from 9-1-1 calls and referrals regarding potential suicides, welfare checks and behavioral health. Available seven days a week, CRT teams frequently assist one another across jurisdictions.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a life-threatening mental health crisis, please call 9-1-1, or the Colorado Mental Health Line at 988. 988 is a free service available to anyone in Colorado experiencing a mental health, substance abuse, or emotional crisis.
For additional information or questions regarding CRT programming, please contact Maggie Cooper, Deputy Division Manager, Douglas County Mental Health Division at mcooper@douglas.co.us