Police and Crisis Team (PACT)

Brief Description

Grande Prairie Police and Crisis Team (PACT) provides a joint mental health/police team available for response to mental health crises; an integrated intervention model which ensures proper determination of care and referral. The team is called to assist in situations in the community where mental health and/or concurrent mental health and addictions issues contribute to the individual's crisis to decrease potential escalation of the situation and/or criminal charges.

Goals

The main goals of the PACT program are to:

• Provide a crisis response team that is able to intervene, assess, and support individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in the community;
• The mobile community-based crisis team addresses the mental health needs of rural individuals who come into contact with the law; and
• Stabilize individuals suffering from mental illness who are in contact with the RCMP.

Clientele

The intended clientele of PACT are individuals experiencing a mental health crisis in the community that have been in contact with the RCMP.

Core Components

PACT operates as follows:

• A community-based mobile crisis response team;
• Support and onsite risk assessment of individuals during a mental health crisis;
• Referrals to appropriate healthcare and community resources for the individual and/or their family;
• Short-term follow-up with client when needed;
• Liaise with community agencies providing mental health counselling and support; and
• Streamlined process when mental health clients need further assessment or possible.

Implementation Information

Some of the critical elements for the implementation of this program or initiative include the following:

• Organizational requirements: This program relies on employing trained team members able to conduct risk assessment, intervene in crisis, and provide appropriate support and referrals to the appropriate community services.
• Partnerships: The teams pair RCMP (or police) officers, who are specially trained in mental health issues, with a psychiatric professional (e.g. a psychiatric nurse) in order to help provide sensitive response to crises and criminal or violent issues that involve individuals with mental health concerns.
• Training and technical assistance: Limited information on this topic.
• Risk assessment tools: Limited information on this topic.
• Materials & resources: Limited information on this topic.

International Endorsements

The most recognized classification systems of evidence-based crime prevention programs have classified this program or initiative as follows:

• Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development: Not applicable.
• Crime Solutions/OJJDP Model Program Guide: Not applicable.
• SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices: Not applicable.
• Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy: Not applicable.

Gathering Canadian Knowledge

Canadian Implementation Sites

PACT was first implemented by Alberta Health Services in the City of Grande Prairie, Alberta from May 2009 to June 2014. During 2011-2012, 1014 clients were seen (475 females and 539 males). Of these, 384 (39%) of the calls involved individuals deemed a danger to themselves, 307 (30%) of the calls involved individuals with various personality disorders, 305 (30%) of the calls involved drug and/or alcohol, and 444 (44%) of clients had previous contact with PACT.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

No information available.

Cost Information

A social return on investment (SROI) has been conducted on the PACT program. The findings from this study have shown the following:

• The SROI ratio, which is based on the total value created divided by the total investment, indicates that over the three-year pilot, the average social value of investment for PACT is $3.56 for every dollar invested.

Funding was provided by the Safe Communities Innovation Fund (SCIF), Government of Alberta.

References

Alberta Community Crime Prevention Organizations. (2015). Social Return on Investment (SROI) Case Study: Police and Crisis Team (PACT). Recipient of Safe Communities Innovation Fund, Government of Alberta. Available from: https://open.alberta.ca/publications/safe-communities-innovation-fund-pilot-project-executive-summaries

For more information on this program, contact:

Alberta Health Services - Peace Country Zone
Douglas Norton
Telephone: (780)539-4681
E-mail: douglasnorton@albertahealthservices.ca