Co-Responder Program - Embedded Mental Health Professionals
The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department is partnered with Waukesha County Health and Human Services to service the community’s mental health needs, with the creation of an embedded mental health professional program. The program has been in operation since November 2021 and employs two full-time mental health professionals.
The two full-time embedded mental health professionals are trained in crisis intervention, de-escalation, and can authorize CH 51.15 emergency detentions. The primary goal of the program is to respond with deputies to mental health emergencies in the community, provide an assessment and connection to appropriate resources.
The mental health professionals dispatch to mental health calls, which reduces the response time of a mental health professional arriving on scene and allows for better evaluation of services. In 2024, the program received 566 calls for service with 353 resulting in an in-person response.
In response to the needs of individuals living with disabilities and health challenges in Waukesha County, we recognize the importance of equipping our first responders—including Police, Fire, EMS, and 911 Dispatchers—with essential information to enhance their preparedness and effectiveness.
To this end, a comprehensive, universal fillable form has been developed for use by all agencies within Waukesha County. By providing advanced medical and behavioral information, this tool facilitates improved understanding and more accurate situational assessments, leading to more appropriate responses in emergency scenarios.
Please carefully follow the instructions, and ensure you select the correct municipality corresponding to the residence of the individual.
Community Crisis Intervention
Crisis Intervention trained deputies bridge the gap between law enforcement and mental health care through community-based problem solving. Deputies attend 40 hours of specialized training to better help consumers of the Waukesha County mental health system or individuals who maybe in crisis.
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