After being the subject of initial cancellation by the Ford government, the Lanark County Mobile Crisis Response Team is being expanded.
Funding has been received from both Ontario Health – Champlain (in partnership with North Lanark Community Health Services) and County of Lanark.
This means the team can now consist of registered nurses and registered social workers who partner with Lanark County OPP and Smiths Falls Police Service.”
The MCRT program began as a pilot project funded through a Proceeds of Crime – Front-line Policing Grant in 2018.
Community mental health workers are co-located in police detachments and respond together with police to identify mental health needs following a crisis situation.
Since the program began in 2018, there has been a reported reduction in involuntary apprehensions, as well as a substantial reduction in voluntary hospital admissions.