Crisis Co-Response Program Showing Positive Results in The County
Date: March 19, 2023
A collaborative approach between mental health professionals and police is proving effective in responding to crisis-related calls in The County.
Local officials recently highlighted the early success of the Integrated Mobile Police and Co-Response Team (IMPACT), a program launched last summer that pairs mental health workers with police officers when responding to situations involving mental health or addiction concerns.
The update was presented during a Committee of the Whole meeting by Sandi LeBlanc-DiCresce, program manager, and Derek McGeachy, director of clinical services at Addictions and Mental Health Services Hastings Prince Edward.
According to OPP Detachment Commander Staff Sgt. John Hatch, the program has significantly changed how police respond to crisis situations. In his 2022 year-end report, Hatch noted that IMPACT allows officers to connect individuals with appropriate professional support while enabling police to focus on other policing responsibilities.
“IMPACT is designed to provide on-scene mental health and addictions support alongside police officers,” McGeachy explained. “The goal is to reduce harm and ensure people in crisis receive timely, appropriate care. Our communities are facing complex and evolving challenges, and this model helps us respond more effectively.”
The program began operating in The County on July 24, 2022, with team members working directly out of the local OPP detachment. Since its launch, IMPACT has responded to 88 joint police calls, managed 180 follow-up referrals, and handled more than 200 outreach and consultation requests.
Beyond crisis response, the team helps individuals navigate the healthcare system, access community services, receive hospital support, and engage in short-term transitional case management.
“They meet people where they are—often literally,” said LeBlanc-DiCresce. “Many individuals are open to support once it’s offered in a respectful, timely way, especially those who may not have a family doctor, reliable transportation, or who have fallen through the cracks.”
IMPACT also supports police personnel by offering debriefing services, training, and confidential mental health assistance for all OPP staff. So far, anonymous documentation has been completed for 263 individuals, and resources have been shared with over 100 family members, caregivers, and friends.
Participation in the program is voluntary, consistent with other services offered by the Canadian Mental Health Association Hastings Prince Edward.
The IMPACT initiative was made possible through more than $1 million in one-time provincial funding received in 2021, supporting partnerships with Belleville Police Service and OPP detachments across Quinte West, Prince Edward County, Central Hastings, and Bancroft. Ongoing funding is now provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
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