FREEBORN INITIATIVE NFP

ECHO Response:
Operational Overview

Mission Statement:

(ECHO) Empower, Collaborate, Heal, Overcome are dedicated to providing compassionate, immediate, and specialized mental health crisis intervention. Our mission is to reduce harm and prevent escalation through non-aggressive de-escalation techniques, ensuring that every individual in crisis receives the care, support, and dignity they deserve. We aim to bridge the gap between emergency response and mental health care by deploying highly trained personnel who are committed to protecting lives and fostering community trust.

Scope of Practice:

Freeborn ERTs are designed for rapid response to veterans and community members in crisis. The ERTs will be be highly trained emergency crisis counselors while also maintaining an EMT-B (State of Illinois). The ERT skills to a wide range of mental health crises. While also being trained to judge a situation and activating appropriate levels of law enforcement environment.

The scope of practice includes:

1. Crisis Intervention:

ERTs respond to mental health crises in the community, providing immediate assessment, emotional support, and de-escalation.

2. Non-Aggressive De-escalation:

The primary focus is on non-aggressive de-escalation techniques, employing verbal communication, active listening, and empathy to calm individuals in distress.

3. On-site Mental Health Support:

Teams will provide initial mental health assessments, determine immediate needs, and offer on-site counseling or referral to appropriate services.

4. Collaboration with Local Services:

ERTs work in collaboration with local healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community resources to ensure comprehensive care and support.

5. Transport to Care Facilities:

If necessary, the teams will arrange safe and dignified transport to appropriate care facilities, such as hospitals or mental health centers.

6. Follow-Up Support:

ECHO teams will ensure follow-up with individuals post-crisis, connecting them with ongoing care and support services to prevent future crises.

Special Training for ERT Personnel:

ERT personnel undergo specialized training to ensure they are fully equipped to handle the unique challenges of mental health crisis intervention. This training includes:

1. Crisis Intervention Training (CIT):

Comprehensive education on identifying and responding to various mental health conditions, focusing on empathy, communication, and de-escalation techniques.

2. Trauma-Informed Care:

Training in understanding and recognizing the impact of trauma on behavior, ensuring that responses are sensitive to the individual's experience and aimed at minimizing further trauma.

3. Nonviolent Crisis Intervention:

Specific techniques for managing difficult situations without the use of force, including verbal de-escalation, personal safety measures, and safe restraint methods if absolutely necessary.

4. Mental Health First Aid:

Basic training in mental health first aid, enabling team members to provide initial support for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.

5. Cultural Competency:

Education on cultural sensitivity and awareness, ensuring that ERT personnel can effectively communicate and respond to individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Examples:

Whenever possible, veterans need veteran first responders.
Muslim women will always have a female first responder.

6. Legal and Ethical Training:

Knowledge of legal rights, ethical considerations, and confidentiality requirements related to mental health crisis intervention.

7. Collaborative Practice:

Training in working alongside law enforcement, healthcare providers, and community organizations, ensuring a unified and effective response.

8. Simulation Exercises:

Regular participation in scenario-based training and simulation exercises to practice and refine skills in realistic crisis situations.

Operational Protocol:

1. Dispatch:

ECHO teams are dispatched via the ECHO Crisis Line or through collaboration with local law enforcement when a mental health crisis is reported.

2. Initial Assessment:

Upon arrival, ERT personnel conduct an immediate assessment of the situation, identifying the individual's needs, potential risks, and the best course of action.

3. De-escalation:

Using non-aggressive de-escalation techniques, the team engages with the individual, aiming to calm the situation and establish trust.

4. Care Coordination:

Based on the assessment, the team determines whether the individual requires on-site support, transport to a care facility, or referral to other services.

5. Documentation and Follow-Up:

Detailed documentation of the incident is completed, and arrangements for follow-up care are made to ensure the individual receives ongoing support.

The ECHO Response Teams are committed to reshaping how mental health crises are handled in our communities, prioritizing safety, compassion, and effective care. Through this approach, we aim to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and ensure that all individuals in crisis are treated with the respect and care they deserve.

Statistics related to mental health crisis responses, with a focus on the role of law enforcement, EMTs, and the potential for non-emergency interventions:

Justification:

Mental Health Crisis Calls: ER vs. Community-Based Responses

1. Emergency Department Overuse:

- According to a study published in Psychiatric Services (2017), only 30% mental health-related emergency department (ED) visits resulted in hospital admission, suggesting that a significant portion of these visits might have been managed through community-based interventions.

- A study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that 63% of people who were transported to the ER for a mental health crisis did not require immediate inpatient care, indicating that many could have been managed in the community or through specialized mental health services instead of being transported to the ER.

2. Impact on Law Enforcement and EMTs:

- In rural areas, law enforcement officers often serve as first responders to mental health crises, despite many lacking the specialized training required to handle these situations effectively. This adds strain on police resources and increases the likelihood of escalation.

- According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, one in ten calls to law enforcement involve someone with a mental health crisis. However, many of these situations do not require police intervention but rather specialized mental health care, which could be provided by teams like the ECHO Response Teams.

Fatal Outcomes in Mental Health Crisis Interventions:

1. Police Shootings and Mental Health:

- According to a report by The Washington Post, in 2022, 21% of the individuals shot and killed by police were experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the incident. This highlights the risks of involving armed law enforcement in situations that might be better managed by trained mental health professionals.

- The Treatment Advocacy Center reports that individuals with untreated mental illness are 16 times more likely to be killed by law enforcement than other civilians. This statistic underscores the need for alternative responses to mental health crises, such as the ECHO teams.

2. Non-Lethal but Traumatic Interventions:
- Studies indicate that the use of force in mental health crisis interventions, even when non-lethal, can result in significant psychological trauma and worsen the individual’s mental health condition. The presence of specialized mental health response teams can significantly reduce these risks.

Potential Impact of ECHO Response Teams:

1. Relieving Pressure on ERs and First Responders:
By diverting appropriate cases from the ER and traditional first responders to specialized teams like ECHO, local ERs can reduce unnecessary admissions, allowing them to focus on medical emergencies. This also relieves pressure on law enforcement and EMTs, enabling them to respond to other critical situations more effectively.

In rural areas, where resources are limited, having dedicated mental health response teams can make a significant difference in outcomes, ensuring that individuals in crisis receive the right kind of care without straining the already limited resources of local hospitals and police departments.

Providing these services at no charge to the local community will enhance overall mental health care access, reduce the stigma associated with mental health crises, and improve trust between the community and service providers. This proactive approach can lead to better long-term outcomes for individuals and communities alike.

The data suggests a substantial need for specialized mental health crisis teams like ECHO, particularly in rural areas. By intervening in non-aggressive mental health crises, these teams can prevent unnecessary ER visits, reduce the risk of fatal encounters with law enforcement, and alleviate the burden on local emergency services. Expanding these services to the wider community at no charge further strengthens the case for such initiatives, emphasizing their role in creating safer, more supportive environments for those in crisis. Through the principle of reciprocity, The Freeborn Initiative NFP fosters a unique relationship with the veterans they assist. Every veteran who receives help is viewed not just as a recipient of aid but as a potential integral member of the organization and its broader mission. This approach recognizes the value and experience that veterans bring, transforming them from beneficiaries into active contributors.