ECSO granted $549K so deputies can 'expedite care' in mental health-related calls

The Escambia County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday that it received a $549,000 mental health grant, allowing three deputies to work with mental health clinicians from Lakeview Center.

With the Connect and Protect Law Enforcement Behavioral Help Response Program Grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the ECSO will form two co-responder teams to work with mental health professionals for mental health-related calls, providing "immediate care and resources for our community members in their time of need."

"Utilizing crisis-based services in combination with law enforcement responses will expedite care and minimize the likelihood of law enforcement arrests, Baker acts and Marchman acts," said Col. Mindy Von Ansbach Young, head of ECSO's Mental Health Wellness Unit.

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The mental wellness unit typically supports ECSO employees while working in conjunction with local mental health providers, according to the release, but the new funding will allow the two co-responders to dispatch on service calls related to mental health.

"The $549,000 will not only be used to train deputies but will also fund the employees' salaries for the three years," the release stated. "This will not only provide individuals with mental health-specific responses, but it will also free patrol deputies to answer other calls for service."

Benjamin Johnson can be reached at bjohnson@pnj.com or 850-435-8578

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: ECSO granted $549K to help with mental health-related calls