The Pitkin Area Co-Responder Teams (PACT) Project

Pitkin County Public Health, in partnership with Aspen Police Department, Snowmass Village Police Department, and the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, seeks to strengthen law enforcement and mental health cross-system collaboration through the Pitkin Area Co-Responder Teams (PACT) project. PACT pairs mental health professionals with law enforcement officers to co-respond to incidents involving individuals with mental health disorders (MHDs) or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (MHSUDs) and provides outreach and follow-up to help de-criminalize mental illness by reducing arrests, incarcerations, and repeat police calls for individuals in need of community-based services and mental health support in Pitkin County, Colorado (population 16,876).

With BJA grant funds, the PACT team will plan and implement strategies to reduce the risk of harm and health risks to individuals MHDs or co-occurring MHSUDs who make contact with law enforcement; reduce recidivism among individuals with MHDs and MHSUDs through connection with behavioral health services and case management; and share data to inform improvements to equitable access to culturally responsive mental health services and substance use disorder treatment resources for all Pitkin County residents, workers, and visitors. 

The proposed PACT project will address Priority Area 1A by addressing inequities and contributing to better access to mental health services for historically underserved communities, including the Hispanic and Latino population, unhoused individuals, formerly incarcerated individuals, and rural populations. PACT will address the programmatic priority areas under Priority Area 2. The PACT strategic planning effort will evaluate effective strategies to strengthen law enforcement's capacity to identify and reduce the risk of harm to individuals with MHDs or co-occurring MHSUDs who encounter law enforcement and improve public safety. The plan will propose interventions that have been shown by empirical evidence to reduce recidivism. There are no planned conference activities for the recommended award.