Local News

More Details on Mental Health Outreach

(La Porte, IN) - The City of La Porte has created a new position aimed at more effectively addressing problems with mental health and substance abuse in the community.

 

A mental health professional/social worker position was approved at a yearly salary of $59,000 by the city council on Tuesday.  

 

Mayor Tom Dermody said the new position is “a first step” toward better serving the public and cutting back on police involvement in matters best handled by a social worker.

 

Dermody said the savings in time for law enforcement can be invested on things like catching more drug dealers.

 

“With as many mental health calls for service and as many overdoses as we’re getting, we need to do something different as we look to the future of policing,” he said.

 

La Porte Police Chief Paul Brettin said the greatest benefit will be getting people the help required to overcome their struggles.

 

“This person will get them the resources they need,” he said.

 

Brettin said a mental health or substance abuse issue can emerge in a wide variety of calls ranging from threats to commit suicide, overdoses, domestic violence and motor vehicle accidents.  He said the social worker will step in as soon as a situation is made safe, provide immediate counseling and make arrangements for any treatment.

 

Currently, Brettin said officers stay to assist as much as they can but they’re not trained in handling depression and other mental health issues.  They must also respond to the next call.

 

Brettin also said officers don’t’ have time later to do the work required to get people help for an extended period.

 

“People fall through the cracks.  This is to prevent them from falling through the cracks,” he said.

 

Brettin said law enforcement agencies nationwide in response to what seems to be a spike in need are beginning to include mental health and social work into their approach.  For example, he said the emerging program here was modeled after ones in Valparaiso and Griffith.

 

Brettin said the new position will also be used to help police officers deal with their emotions after responding to a traumatic situation.

 

“It’s a win, win.  There’s no downside to it,” he said.

 

Human Resources Director Andrea Smith said the person filling the position she described as “well needed” will be required to be on call.

 

“You never know when a mental health crisis can happen,” she said.

 

Smith said the salary will be paid with a grant from HealthLinc, an organization providing free and reduced cost health care based on income at clinics throughout Northwest Indiana.

 

If the one-year grant is not renewed, she said the city is dedicated to funding the salary and benefits package into the future.  She also revealed more social workers could be added at some point depending on how things under the initial effort work out.

 

Smith said the city is working with Purdue University Northwest, which has a social worker degree program, on crafting the job description, qualifications and looking over the resumes from applicants.

 

“They’ve been an invaluable resource,” she said.

 

The new position will be housed inside the police station.

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