Bowen Health creates crisis-response program in Whitley County

Dec 5

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Bowen Health has created a mental health response program alongside Whitley County courts and law enforcement that, so far, has 100 percent success in getting people into treatment and keeping them out of the court system.

Recognizing the need

About two years ago, Whitley County officials were trying to sort out a recurring problem. Police and the court system were spending valuable time and money on people who were obviously struggling, in need of help, and not breaking any laws.

“We had several cases of Law Enforcement being called out to homes where the youth was clearly in crisis,” remembers Whitley County Deputy Prosecutor Lindsey Grossnickel. “Parents wouldn’t know what to do and felt that they could not control the youth, but we were not in a position to remove them.” In cases when there was no legal reason for police to intervene, the situation was left unaddressed until the next time and the next. The issues weren’t solving themselves, and it was only a matter of time, in most cases, that trouble would follow.

Deputy Prosecutor Grossnickel, along with Whitley County Assistant Chief of Probation Jen Christie, co-chairs Whitley County’s Juvenile Detention Aversion Initiative (JDAI), an effort to keep kids out of trouble and out of the court system. They both felt there had to be a better way and were willing to put the agency’s funding behind it, especially when it came to children who might be caught up in the legal system.

Building the program

Their discussions led to an idea: Have a mental health provider respond to certain crisis situations alongside law enforcement to get a jump on addressing root causes of those circumstances before they could deteriorate further.

“Initially, it was a pipedream because of cost, availability, willingness…,” said Ms. Grossnickel. “I brought the idea to Mista, and she immediately started working on it and made it a reality.”

Mista Lauber, Bowen Health Executive Director for Northeast Indiana, and her staff started to figure out how they could create a system that provides life-saving care for these situations that were usually unresolved. They got busy creating staffing plans, protocols, and guidelines: When should the team be called? When shouldn’t they be called? Who is responsible for what?

Working with Whitley County officials, they devised the system that is now in operation.

How it works

“When law enforcement arrives at a scene and there's nothing they can do legally because it's more of a mental health issue, they will call us,” explains Ms. Lauber. “We will respond 24/7/365. Law enforcement will stay on the scene until everyone—police, crisis team, and family—is comfortable with the crisis team taking over.”

“The goal is to stabilize the situation right away when we get there. The crisis teams are trained to stabilize and diffuse the situation. Before they leave, they work with family members to make a follow-up plan and a safety plan moving forward,” said Ms. Lauber.

Collaboration equals success

Once the details of the JDAI system were worked out, everyone involved had to be trained on how the program worked. Several law enforcement agencies, the prosecutor’s office, probation department, and dispatch operators had to know their role, or the system would not function. Beginning in January 2023, the program moved into reality thanks to a shared desire to improve results for those struggling.

“Whitley County is lucky to have great community partnerships,” said Ms. Grossnickel. “Law Enforcement was excited when we brought this idea to them. We all understand that we need tools, and if we can have more tools for better outcomes, it’s a win-win.”

Collaborators helping to make this effort a reality include Whitley County Law enforcement (Churubusco, South Whitley, and Columbia City police, Whitley County Sheriff's Department, and State Police) dispatch, prosecutors, probation, Bowen Health, and Community Corrections.

Results

Supported by the enthusiastic participation of these agencies, Bowen Health crisis teams have responded to dozens of calls since early 2023 and have started to change lives.

“One hundred percent have come back for services, said Ms. Lauber. “That drastically lowers the number of times they're calling law enforcement for the same thing over and over again.” Instead of becoming wards of “the system” these people are now on a path to better health and the chance to live their best lives.

The court system is seeing similar results.

“Since the program has gone live, we have not had a youth placed on probation after a crisis call has been made,” said Ms. Grossnickel. “I have only heard positive comments. Other communities want to duplicate this program because the need is everywhere.”

Noting the program’s success with youth, Community Corrections is now providing the funding to support calls for adults as well.

“Bowen Health is always looking to connect with individuals who need our help but who may not seek it out,” said its VP of Intensive Services Tess Ottenweller, “This is early intervention that offers a window of opportunity to manage immediate symptoms, build resilience, and shape a healthier future.”