An effort is underway in Delaware County to divert people with mental health issues from the legal system and get them into treatment, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

A new county-wide program from the Delaware County Department of Human Services gives police officers discretion to refer people with behavioral issues to a case manager instead of being arrested.

Last Wednesday, Delaware County Council permitted the Department of Human Services to seek proposals for a provider who could start as early as December 2024.

“The goal of the program is to connect individuals to treatment and to keep them out of the criminal justice system as much as possible — and to make sure that we have the support and process in place to do that,” Councilmember Dr. Monica Taylor said.

A similar pilot program was rolled out with Upper Darby and Haverford police departments. In those cases, a mobile crisis unit of mental health professionals tag along with police during behavioral health emergencies.

Human Services Director Sanda Garrison noted that people would not necessarily have to be experiencing a mental health crisis to be eligible for a referral to a certified recovery or peer specialist.

Find out more about this new approach to treating mental health issues in the community at WHYY.