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Aspire engages first responders to better serve people with behavioral health challenges

Aspire Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Services recently hosted a luncheon for law enforcement and other first responders in appreciation of their service to the community. Aspire staff provided information on dealing with individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

“Aspire’s goal is to work closely with first responders, improve accessibility of behavioral health support services in the communities, improve response time to crisis intervention in the community, and decrease ER visits,” said executive director Kay Brooks.

Staff gave a brief update on community behavioral health services in the eight southwest Georgia counties the agency serves and provided information about Aspire’s 24/7 walk-in crisis center in Albany. The first responders also had the opportunity to share some of the challenges they face when handling crisis situations.

“Law enforcement and other first responders are invaluable in behavioral health crisis situations,” Brooks said. “Aspire staff are committed to assisting our first responders to quick accessibility to behavioral health services, whether crisis intervention in the community, or at our walk-in crisis center.”

Aspire has scheduled follow-up visits with first responder staff to continue the dialog started during the luncheon. A strong partnership with local law enforcement and emergency personnel will help ensure that people needing crisis and other behavioral health services receive fast and effective care to meet their immediate and long-term needs.

Aspire is part of DBHDD’s statewide network of community service boards and provides behavioral health and developmental disability services in Baker, Calhoun, Dougherty, Early, Lee, Miller, Terrell and Worth counties.

See the press coverage of the luncheon from WALB and Fox 31.

Georgia DBHDD

By Georgia DBHDD

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities provides treatment and support services to people with behavioral health challenges and addictive diseases, and assists individuals who live with developmental disabilities.

The agency’s mission is to lead an accountable and effective continuum of care to support people with behavioral health challenges, and intellectual and developmental disabilities in a dynamic health care environment.

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