Leaders from across Geauga County recently took a major step forward in crisis response when the Sheriff's Office hosted a meeting with area mental health officials.
Those involved were from Ravenwood Health, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services. The goal is to tightly link 911 emergency services with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, ensuring no call for help falls through the cracks.
According to Tracy Jordan, the crisis response director for the Sheriff's Office, the meeting laid the groundwork for a seamless partnership between 911 and 988 -- so that whether a crisis is medical, mental health or both, residents will get the fastest, most effective response when every second counts.
Leaders are focusing on streamlining communication, creating joint training opportunities and building clear, shared protocols that connect first responders and crisis counselors in real time.
"Bringing 911 and 988 into alignment is critical to saving lives and connecting people in crisis with the right care at the right time," said Christine Lakomiak, director of the Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services. "This collaboration ensures that law enforcement, behavioral health providers and crisis counselors are working side by side for the safety and well-being of our community."
The initiative is part of a broader statewide and national movement to integrate behavioral health into emergency response systems. By bridging dispatchers with crisis professionals, Geauga County is positioning itself as a leader in delivering compassionate, coordinated and life-saving care for residents facing mental health or substance use emergencies, according to Jordan.
Next steps include joint dispatcher-crisis team training, new referral pathways to speed up connections to care and a public education effort to help residents understand when to call 911 and when to call 988.
"This partnership is about better outcomes for our community," Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand said. "Deputies focus on safety, while clinicians address behavioral health, together, we save lives."
For more information about available crisis resources, contact Jordan at 440-279-2062.