OKC forms Crisis Intervention Advisory Group for crisis response citywide

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - A Crisis Intervention Advisory Group (CIAG) has been formed to address encounters between police and residents experiencing a mental health crisis.

According to the The City of Oklahoma City, the CIAG has started meeting on a quarterly basis.

“We formed this group to ensure the City responds compassionately and humanely to people experiencing a mental health crisis,“ OKC Public Safety Partnership Implementation Manager Andrea Grayson said. “The group will be instrumental in the selection and monitoring of a provider that will develop and operate mobile Behavioral Health Alternative Response Teams. This provider will coordinate with the City’s public safety departments to respond to low-risk, non-violent calls.”

The creation of the CIAG was recommendation No. 11 out of 39 recommendations outlined in a report presented to City Council in 2022 to modernize the Police Department in the area of de-escalation and crisis intervention.

“Oklahoma City’s public safety agencies have an important role to play in the community’s response to people experiencing a behavioral health crisis,” Jessica Hawkins, CIAG lead facilitator and Director of Community and Systems Initiatives at Healthy Minds Policy Initiative, said. “An effective response to these crises will involve multiple partners in a coordinated effort. By aligning resources across sectors, Oklahoma City can better ensure more people have access to treatment when and where they need it.”

Some goals of the CIAG include:

• Channel response to providers who are best equipped to deal with those experiencing mental and behavioral health challenges.

• Provide guidance in the development and operation of the City’s Crisis Response Teams that will respond to high-acuity mental health calls for service.

• Provide guidance to the City in the selection of a qualified provider that will be responsible for the development of Alternatives Response Teams that will respond to low-acuity mental health calls for service.

• Identify key indicators to monitor the City’s crisis response system by collecting and reviewing data and reporting findings.

• Monitor and review the number/percentage of Crisis Intervention trained police officers and Crisis Intervention Team members.

City leaders says, the advisory group is made up of mental and behavioral health experts, social service providers, clinicians, community advocates, academics, other police department subject matter experts, and other stakeholders in the mental health field.

OKC residents can track the Police Department’s progress on 39 recommendations made by the Law Enforcement Policy Task Force and the Community Policing Working Group by visiting the OKC Public Safety Partnership website at okc.gov/government/okc-public-safety-partnership.