Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Centers Executive Director Erik Sievers.
WINONA, Minn. (KWNO)-Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Centers and the City of Winona are aiming to have the Alternative Response Team activated within a month.
Hiawatha Valley Executive Director Eric Sievers says the two parties need to finalize the agreement and hire two new mental health professionals before the team starts. He said the team will respond to non-violent mental health calls that have traditionally been placed to law enforcement and refer the caller to community services that can help them.
Sievers said the Alternative Response Team could also shed some light on mental health needs in the community.
“We plan to measure this program and that will help inform of how we should maybe adjust what we do with it or help inform what we need in the community that we don’t have today for people,” Sievers said.
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