“We Need to Not Fear You”: Essential Factors Identified by Sworn Officers and Civilian Staff for Implementation and Expansion of a Co-Response Program

• NCJ Number: 309632
• Journal: Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology Dated: October 2024
• Author(s): Mark Plassmeyer; Melissa Gute; Kim Stauss
• Date Published: October 2024
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 15PNIJ-22-GG-03144-RESS
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Award: Embedding Social Work into a Police Department in the South: Understanding the Impact and Cultural Shift of Implementing a Problem-Oriented, Collaborative Policing Model

Annotation

This study examines factors identified by officers and civilian staff for implementation and expansion of a co-response program.

Abstract

This article reports on one aspect of co-response program evaluation focusing on police department employees’ perspectives on integrating social workers into their department and how those perspectives have changed over time as the program has expanded. Through semi-structured interviews and survey data collected in 2021 and 2023, this research highlights key factors contributing to the program’s successes and continued challenges. The results provide valuable insights, suggestions, and other factors to consider for similar police departments when making decisions whether to establish or expand co-response initiatives. The Fayetteville, AR, Police Department (FPD) initiated a co-response program in 2021, partnering with social workers to respond to individuals in crisis. Originally started with a University of Arkansas School of Social Work (UA) internship, the Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT) has grown over time. The program now includes two full-time co-response teams, two social work interns, and plans for further expansion. UA provides support for the program through continued internships, clinical supervision, and program evaluation. (Published Abstract Provided)