In a significant recognition of those who tirelessly operate at the intersections of mental health crises and law enforcement, Tarrant County has officially designated the week of September 16 as the Tarrant County Co-Responder and Crisis Responder Week. The proclamation, announced by the White Settlement Police Department and backed by the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, shines a spotlight on professionals who offer specialised care in situations often fraught with peril and vulnerability.
This initiative seeks to outwardly appreciate the binding work of co-responders and crisis teams, integrating law enforcement expertise with mental health proficiency to defuse tense and precarious situations. "Our Tarrant County liaison, Olivia Van Ness, is a valuable partner that routinely works across our community in helping our team and citizens," per the White Settlement Police Department. The acknowledgment also extends to Leah H. White and her team for their commendable and ongoing community work. Moreover, the Police Department credits the partnership with the Tarrant County Law Enforcement Liaison Project and Tarrant County My Health My Resources for equipping police officers with the resources necessary to effectively assist during crises.
The call to action for this proclamation springs from a stark reality—the National Alliance on Mental Health reports a critical shortage of mental health professionals in swathes of the United States. Tarrant County, understanding the emergent need for specialized crisis response, recognizes the co-responder and mobile crisis team model as a potent and newly established best practice.
