Johnson County proclaims Sept. 15 as National Co-Responder/Crisis Responder Week; mental-health teams lauded

The Board of County Commissioners issued a proclamation recognizing the work of co-responders and mobile crisis teams and declared Sept. 15 as National Co-Responder (Crisis Responder) Week in Johnson County.

Chair Mike Kelly read the proclamation and thanked local co-responders for their work. Sheriff Byron Roberson described two co-responders embedded in the Johnson County Sheriff—s Office, Kim Hyman and Chelsea Musfeldt, who respond with deputies to calls in unincorporated areas and collaborate with schools and other county co-responders. Roberson described instances in which a co-responder reviewed eviction lists and accompanied civil deputies to speak with at-risk tenants, sometimes contacting family members and facilitating voluntary moves before eviction dates. "These are just a couple of numerous instances in which the co responder assist the sheriff's office and our community to provide continuity of care for persons in crisis," Roberson said.

Rob McDougall, director of Emergency Services at Johnson County Mental Health Center, said mobile crisis teams and co-responders bring clinical expertise into community settings, help deescalate crises, divert people from jail and emergency rooms and connect people to care. "This proclamation is a public affirmation that mental health is public safety," McDougall said, and urged continued investment in co-responder programs.

The board publicly recognized and thanked the named co-responders and the county—s mobile crisis teams.