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Township-funded police social work program links DeKalb residents to crisis care, presenters say
Summary
Presenters from Ben Gordon said township grant funding expanded police social work time in DeKalb, producing higher referrals and more community stabilizations while reducing emergency department transports; trustees asked about youth and elder services and pledged continued support.
DeKalb Township trustees heard a detailed briefing on Feb. 17 from Ben Gordon clinicians about a police social work program the township has helped fund, and presenters urged continued support to expand staff and dedicated co-response officers.
"For those of you who aren't familiar with our PD social work program, the goal is partnership with local law enforcement with the hopes of reducing some of those 911 calls by having a partner with police and social work," said Christine Maxwell, clinical program director at Ben Gordon. Maxwell described a year-over-year increase in initial referrals in DeKalb, saying the program saw about 566 in one prior grant year and 827 initial referrals in…
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