Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Sheriff proposes voluntary ‘Approach to Care’ registry to help responders identify residents with sensory needs
Loading...
Summary
Granville County Sheriff briefed the board on a voluntary registry for people with sensory needs that would add flags to CAD/RMS and stickers for homes/vehicles so 911 and officers can adapt responses; staff said registration is voluntary, requires no doctor documentation and will be tracked for outcomes.
The Granville County sheriff on April 6 presented a voluntary “Approach to Care” registry designed to help 911 and first responders identify residents with sensory needs, autism or intellectual disabilities and adjust interactions accordingly.
The program would let caregivers or individuals register through a digital form or a hard-copy sign-up at the sheriff’s office. Registered households and vehicles would display a standardized sticker; when 911 dispatches a call, the CAD/RMS entry would flag sensory needs so responders know to alter their approach (for example, covering shiny badges, minimizing sudden noises or using calming items such as bubbles).
Sheriff (speaking as sheriff) said the initiative is intended to de-escalate encounters and improve outcomes for vulnerable residents. "This is a voluntary program to where we will get the information that's gonna be protected in our system," he said, adding that the data will populate into the CAD system and be available to dispatchers and responding officers.
Shontay Alexander, who said she will be the program point person, told commissioners the registration is voluntary, available digitally and on hard copy, and requires no medical documentation: "Just the caregiver says this is the issue. This is how we can best help or describe what their sensory needs are," she said. Alexander said staff will track participation, the number of interactions and outcomes.
Commissioners asked how the county would protect privacy and who may register someone. One commissioner urged caution about registration authority and verification; the county’s attorney and staff acknowledged privacy concerns and flagged the need to finalize procedures. The sheriff said a training session for first responders is scheduled and that the program is intended to be interagency rather than siloed.
The presentation did not include a formal vote; the board asked staff to continue developing implementation, outreach and privacy safeguards. The sheriff said the county has spoken with neighboring jurisdictions and community partners, and that the program will be promoted by social media, press release and word-of-mouth through caregiver networks.
The next steps are for staff to finalize registration forms, training and privacy protocols and to report back with metrics and a tracking plan for success measures.
