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Local mental‑health nonprofit pitches 24/7 mobile services to Hendry County commissioners
Summary
Crisis Prevention and Empowerment told commissioners it provides free, mobile mental‑health services across Circuit 20, including school and jail crisis response, and reported a 94% Baker Act diversion rate; the nonprofit requested awareness and partnerships with law enforcement and schools.
Heather Cross, CEO of Crisis Prevention and Empowerment (CPE), told the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 10 that her nonprofit offers free, mobile mental‑health services across Circuit 20, including a 24/7 hotline, school‑based crisis response, and jail assessments aimed at diverting involuntary hospitalizations under the Baker Act.
“We have a 94 percent rate of diverting Baker Acts,” Cross said, citing CPE’s success placing clinicians and peer‑support specialists with law enforcement co‑responder teams and embedding services in schools and the county jail. She described wraparound services—case management and peer supports—that are mobile and free, and said her agency served “probably a 150 people a month” in the area. Cross said CPE recently received a $25,000 grant to assist clients with social‑determinant needs (rent, utilities, school fees) and that services include help applying for insurance and benefits.
Cross asked the board to help raise awareness about the nonprofit’s free services and to consider partnerships with law enforcement and schools; she left brochures and an 844 hotline number for residents to call. Commissioners thanked Cross and noted existing partnerships with local agencies that can help connect residents to services.
No formal request for county funding or action requiring a vote was recorded in the presentation; the board expressed appreciation and interest in leveraging county contacts to increase awareness of the program.
