First Step Issues Report Verifying Success of Mental Health Crisis Pilot Program

Government

First Step of Sarasota CEO Tom Knight released a report that validated the success of First Step’s Behavioral Health Response Team (BHRT), a pilot program to divert people experiencing severe mental health crises from law enforcement, first responders and school employees. Following the success of a four-month pilot program executed in collaboration with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and Sarasota Police Department, the results come amid First Step’s proposed funding for expansion from the Sarasota County Commission. “If we invest in prevention and diversion, we will spend fewer dollars on crisis management,” says Knight. “The BHRT program has validated this can work.”

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