Local Successes and Statistics

Current Impact

Gainesville City Police Clinicians have touched people in the community in various settings and in a variety of ways. Please continue reading to learn more about ways we have helped the community and new programs we have initiated!

New and Developing Programs

  • When Gainesville Police Department is called for an overdose, the mental health clinicians will evaluate for the need of a follow up. Resources for substance use disorders will promptly be provided and the clinicians will continue to follow up on the case to ensure the individual receives the help they request.

  • If you are feeling like you may harm yourself or someone else with a firearm in your home, please call Gainesville Police Department. We will come out and retrieve the firearm to be held at the police department. We will provide resources and follow up, and you will be able to retrieve your firearm from the police department when you are ready.

  • Gainesville Police Clinicians will visit Hall County Jail and follow up with those who have been identified by police officers or jail staff as being in need of resources or mental health intervention. These individuals work with the clinicians to develop an exit plan, evaluate current needs, and establish a line of communications and support for continued support once they are released from jail.

  • Gainesville Police Mental Health Clinicians are working side-by-side with local organizations who serve the needs of homeless individuals to aid in connection to resources, therapeutic interventions, and functional support.

Examples of Success

The Gainesville Police Clinicians have a specific way of thinking about success that looks different from other contexts of the word.

Defining Success with Mental Illness

Gainesville Police Clinicians define success as moving from a category of unmanaged mental illness to managed mental illness. A person is considered to be in the “managed mental illness” category when they have access to resources, have a crisis plan, maintain their treatment plans, and are capable of leading a more satisfying lifestyle while living with a mental illness.

Defining Success with Resource Deficiencies

Gainesville Police Clinicians define success for those with resource deficiencies by looking at the rate of improvement of circumstance once they have connected the client to local agencies for services. Clinicians will follow up with the client for several weeks to ensure adequate services were provided by the referred agencies and will provide additional resources if needed. The primary goal is that the client is no longer considered to be deficient in resources and lives a more comfortable life because of the connections made.

Gainesville Police Clinicians have helped their clients into success in some of the following ways:

  • Helping Hall County Jail identify those incarcerated with mental illnesses and providing resources within the jail.

  • Making connections within homeless communities to provide resources and support.

  • Responding to mental health crises alongside law enforcement to assist in de-escalation and referral to services on the scene.

  • Meeting with individuals while they are incarcerated to develop and execute an appropriate exit plan.

  • Responding to substance-related crises alongside law enforcement and connecting clients to certified peer coaches on the scene.

  • Connecting individuals to supportive resources, allowing them to live independently, sometimes for the first time.

  • Acting as a liaison between law enforcement and the community.