As part of a determined effort to combat the rise in addiction and mental health crises, local law enforcement agencies have increased their involvement with the Pitkin Area Joint Response Team (PACT), according to a news release.
PACT is funded by grant funding from the Colorado Behavioral Health Agency’s (BHA) Collaborative Response Program and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) Harm Reduction Grant Fund.
The Pitkin Area Collaborative Response Team (PACT) represents a dynamic collaboration between law enforcement and mental health professionals.
“This is a joint response program, where clinicians arrive on scene alongside police officers to de-escalate situations that may be related to mental health or substance use issues,” Pitkin County Mental Health Program Administrator Reilly Bacharach said in a statement.
This proactive approach ensures that individuals in crisis receive immediate and appropriate care, minimizing the risk of the situation worsening, according to the release.
One of PACT’s main goals is to reduce unnecessary incarceration and hospitalization, he said.
“The officers accompanying the clinicians are there for safety and all officers are Certified Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) trained,” he said in a statement. “Clinicians can truly ease the burden on sheriff’s deputies by coordinating access to needed assistance and resources.”
This collaboration allows officers to focus on maintaining safety while doctors address the underlying issues.
The PACT team is supported by three law enforcement agencies: Aspen Police Department, Snowmass Police Department and the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office. Additionally, a case manager helps individuals access important resources like Medicaid, and two peer support specialists with personal experience with these issues provide support throughout the process.
Aspen Police Chief Kim Farber emphasized the importance of programs like PACT in providing immediate assistance and resources.
“Through PACT, our mental health co-responders work alongside law enforcement to address these challenges head on,” she said in a statement, highlighting the program’s impact on communities.
The PACT program, overseen by Kayla Bailey, Program Director at Mind Springs Health, has been a foundation in Pitkin County for over five years. Its mission is to connect individuals in crisis with appropriate community resources to reduce unnecessary incarceration and hospitalization. In 2023 alone, PACT served 288 individuals and provided over 1,700 follow-up services, demonstrating its effectiveness and the important role it plays in the community.
She expressed appreciation for the cooperative efforts with law enforcement.
“Mind Springs and the PACT team are pleased to be part of a community of law enforcement partners who truly prioritize mental health,” she said in a statement. “We look forward to taking home the information we learned from this conference to continue strengthening our support and commitment to our community.”
For more information about the International Co-Responder Alliance, visit coresponderalliance.org/CoRCon (International Co-Responder Alliance)..
