In collaboration with Eliot Community Human Services (Eliot CHS), the City of Malden and the Malden Police Department have initiated a Community Clinician Integration Program. This effort was led by City Councillor Peg Crowe who partnered with Eliot CHS to secure two separate grants: the Melrose Wakefield Healthcare Community Health Initiative Grant and the Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. The funding provides mental health and crisis intervention training as well as a licensed clinician who is integrated within the Police Department and assisting officers.
The trainings offered are through The NAN Project which works to promote mental health awareness and educate the community about supports that are available. Eliot CHS has been coordinating with Capt. Glenn Cronin, Sgt. Mike Powell and Sgt. (Ret.) David Ritchie to organize these inhouse trainings and offer other supports that enhance skills in responding to behavioral/mental health and substance use related emergencies. This collaborative effort also includes access to a licensed clinician whose scope of work includes assisting with community calls and providing resources to help access the appropriate response and care for individuals. Eliot CHS has successfully developed and implemented similar services and supports within three other communities: Lynn, Everett and Wakefield. The goal is to improve collaborations between local law enforcement and community behavioral health services.
Pictured (from left):
Mayor Gary Christenson along with City Councillors Neal Anderson and Peg Crowe joined Police Chief Kevin Molis at one of the Police Department trainings. (Pictured L to R): Mayor Christenson; Jake Cavanaugh, Executive Director of The NAN Project (Eliot CHS); Donna Kausek, LMHS, Clinical Director of The NAN Project (Eliot CHS); City Councillor Neal Anderson; City Councillor Peg Crowe; and, Chief Molis.