First Responder Deflection: A Warm Handoff to Services in the Community
Deflection initiatives are being implemented across the country as a means to connect people who have substance use disorders to needed services and do so without arrest. This seminal eCourse from JCOIN introduces deflection as a collaborative, problem-solving approach for law enforcement and other first responders, substance use treatment providers, and community partners.
Also known by names such as pre-arrest diversion or co-responder programs, deflection serves as a community-centered practice by which law enforcement/first responders make a warm handoff to treatment and services in the community for people who have experienced an overdose or who have a substance use disorder.
This course provides: information on the background and purpose of deflection; descriptions of five pathways of deflection that local communities are using to connect people to services; examples of how these deflection pathways are being implemented in a variety of community settings; resources for local leaders to begin, augment, or support deflection initiatives in their communities; and guidance for incorporating evaluation into deflection initiatives.
Course Resource Guide
Deflection serves as a community-centered practice by which law enforcement or other first responders make warm handoffs to community-based treatment and/or other services for people who have substance use or mental health disorders. Deflection presents an alternative to arresting people who might otherwise either enter the justice system or receive no assistance to address their needs.
The resources listed in the linked document offer information to help you dig deeper into the eCourse First Responder Deflection.
