The McKees Rocks Police Department are prioritizing the mental health of residents in the new year.
The department has launched a new program – in conjunction with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services –to dispatch behavioral health specialists in response to nonviolent social service-related 911 calls.
“Police have become the default,” said Rick Deliman, chief of police. “But we’re not always the right people for the call. So, we want to get people help, while also making sure the responders are safe.”
This new fourth branch of emergency services will work in tandem with the police, fire department and EMS to ensure individuals get the help they need, said Jon Chillinsky, program director.
The program, run by the nonprofit Resources for Human Development, assembles a series of alternative response teams, otherwise known as A-Teams. These teams are composed of individuals from many backgrounds, ranging from substance abuse counseling to social work, along with one clinical supervisor licensed through the state of Pennsylvania.
Program Director Jon Chillinsky describes the Alternative Response Team as the new fourth branch of emergency services that will work in tandem with the police, fire department and EMS to ensure individuals get the help they need.
“Our priority is responding to calls, getting people the help they need, and doing it quickly,” said Chillinsky.
When a 911 call is first received, police review the situation and decide whether the A-Team should be dispatched, and if these first responders require police assistance. Two A-Team responders are then dispatched to the scene where they aim to calmly de-escalate the situation, while also connecting individuals with proper mental or behavioral health services.
The team will also follow up with the individual within 24 to 48 hours to make sure they are receiving ongoing care.
In 2022, McKees Rocks was the first community in the county to sign up for the program. The crisis response teams launched on Oct. 14 of this year in Penn Hills and Monroeville, and has since expanded to include McKees Rocks and some Allegheny County Housing Authority communities.
Since its inception, the A-Team has responded to approximately 115 calls, averaging about two to three calls per day.
Chillinsky reports nothing but positive feedback from the municipalities the program serves.
“We’ve had people go directly to the police departments and voice their satisfaction and thrill with it,” said Chillinsky.
Since the program began in McKees Rocks on Jan. 5, Deliman said there have been no reported A-Team calls in the borough. He said he has no doubt this program will benefit the community.
“The ultimate goal is to get people on the path to the help they need, and this will do that,” said Deliman.
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