The Co-Responder Program Enters Its Fourth Year and Continues Its Partnership with the Gainesville Police Department and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office
Gainesville, Fla. – Meridian’s Co-Responder program was established in 2018, in partnership with the Gainesville Police Department (GPD), to provide community-based solutions for citizens suffering with mental illness or substance use disorders, who often find themselves involved with the justice system.
The Co-Responder program works in partnership with the Gainesville Police Department (GPD), and was expanded into the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) in June 2020. Teams consist of one GPD/ACSO officer and one Meridian clinician.
This evidence-based approach provides a positive form of outreach, community education, and crisis de-escalation. The model also leads to fewer arrests and repeat encounters with law enforcement, as well as reduced use of force in encounters with people suffering with a mental health or substance use disorder crisis.
Since inception, the GPD/Meridian Co-Responder team has had outstanding outcomes resulting in 268 jail diversions and 284 Baker Act diversions through direct engagement in the community.
Along with reaching this milestone, Meridian and the Co-Responder team is recognizing Corporal Shelley Postle for her significant contributions and tireless commitment to the behavioral health community, helping to establish and grow the Co-Responder model in Alachua County.
Jeremiah Alberico, vice president of Diversion and Recovery at Meridian said, “the skills and insight that Corporal Postle brings to the team as an experienced Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer, holding a masters in Forensic Psychology, has been instrumental and invaluable to Meridian, the Gainesville Police Department, and to our community.”
Meridian will seek to expand the Co-Responder program in coordination with all our partners in an effort to provide quality options for those effected by mental illness and substance use disorder.
For more information on the Meridian Co-Responder program, please visit www.mbhci.org/treatment-and-service/outreach-prevention-services/co-responder-team/
