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o While anecdotal information has its limitations to analysis, the MOU should <br />include a statement that reflects a requirement to gather the community, clients <br />and family members' input to aid in evaluation of the program. <br />o BHRS Clinicians access to the Behavioral Health System data base is not <br />specified. One would assume that real-time HIPPA-compliant access to a <br />patient's clinical history is required in order to assess the immediate needs of the <br />person in crisis to whom they are responding. <br />Goals and Objectives (section 7, page 14 of the MOU) <br />• Goal 1: Law enforcement staff and BHRS Clinicians will respond together to active crisis <br />situations where mental health crisis is a factor. <br />o This is process and procedure. It is not actually a goal. <br />• Goal 4: BHRS Clinicians will provide clinical consultation, training, and support to law <br />enforcement personnel in the field. <br />o As written, this could be interpreted to mean that the clinician is providing clinical <br />services (psychiatric clinical services) to police officers. <br />o Training of law enforcement personnel should not be a goal, when CIT and ECIT <br />training is available elsewhere as defined by Redwood City Police policy. <br />• Goal 5: BHRS Clinicians will increase knowledge of mental health conditions and <br />effective intervention strategies among law enforcement personnel. <br />o The goal of the pilot program is shall not to increase law enforcement knowledge <br />intervention strategies. The clinician is intended to work in the field with patients <br />in need of clinical services. <br />o The amount of increased knowledge among law enforcement personnel is not <br />measurable. <br />• Goal 6: Law enforcement will strengthen relationships with service providers and <br />community. <br />o Merely a side-effect; a happenstance that is immeasurable. <br />o if a goal at all, it would be stated in an officer's personal performance review <br />instead of this MOU. <br />As has been stated in previous communications with Redwood City's City Manager and Chief of <br />Police, the goals for the program by and large remain a mystery. With precise goals, as well as <br />data and measurements, the pilot program's success or lack thereof cannot be meaningfully <br />assessed. <br />Response Model to Mental Health Crisis Events <br />• While a co -responder team is a good step forward, a co -responder program does not go <br />far enough. Residents of Redwood City have consistently let it known to its City <br />government and City Council a call for a non -law enforcement response. <br />• Only a non -law enforcement pilot program will provide an opportunity to compare its <br />efficacy with current practice, as well as similar operations such as the San Mateo <br />Sheriff's PERT. <br />• The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) and other experts in behavioral health <br />have offered the opinion that "we need to address urgent and emergent behavioral <br />health needs independent of law enforcement, and only engage [them] when indicated <br />by safety or criminal concerns." <br />Public Input <br />