By Kaylee Remington
cleveland.com
PARMA, Ohio — Parma City Council unanimously approved MetroHealth’s co-responder program Monday night, launching a regional partnership that will place a licensed social worker alongside police officers and firefighters responding to mental health crises, substance use disorders, homelessness and other behavioral health emergencies.
A MetroHealth spokesman previously said that the Parma-Parma Heights Co-Responder Program would be the only co-responder initiative MetroHealth is currently involved in. Parma Safety Director Bob Coury said the program is expected to begin within weeks.
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Under the agreement, a master’s-level licensed social worker employed by MetroHealth will respond alongside Parma and Parma Heights police officers and firefighters to appropriate calls involving mental health crises, substance use disorders, homelessness, domestic conflicts and other social service needs.
Officials said program fills a growing need
Coury said police officers and firefighters increasingly respond to calls requiring more than a traditional law enforcement or emergency medical response.
In addition to responding with first responders, the social worker will provide follow-up case management by connecting residents with mental health treatment, addiction recovery, housing assistance and other community resources.
Parma will serve as the contracting municipality and fiscal agent for the regional partnership, while Parma Heights will reimburse the city for about 30% of program costs based on each community’s share of calls for service. Officials said that percentage could be adjusted as usage data is reviewed.
Parma Mayor Tim DeGeeter said city leaders began exploring the concept about a year ago after hearing about similar programs operating elsewhere in Cuyahoga County .
“I really think this will help save lives, get people the wraparound service they need, stop the frequent calls to our safety forces and save lives at the end,” he said during the council meeting.
Police data illustrates demand
Parma Police Chief Kevin Riley said department statistics underscore why the program is needed.
Between Jan. 1 and Monday, Parma police responded to 1,205 welfare checks, 1,025 disturbance calls, 411 calls assisting the fire department involving mental health issues, 357 juvenile complaints, 109 domestic violence calls, 82 homelessness-related calls, 36 suicide or attempted suicide calls and 136 active drug cases.
Riley also said a search for “mental health” in the department’s records management system produced 233 pages of reports from this year alone.
“That’s why we need this program,” Riley said, calling it “a historical paradigm shift in the way we deliver police and fire services in our community.”
County grant reduces city’s cost
The one-year agreement with MetroHealth is valued at up to $207,130, according to Coury.
A $100,000 annual grant from Cuyahoga County, awarded for this year and the next two years, reduces Parma’s first-year share to $77,581, with Parma Heights contributing its portion of the remaining costs.
After city council approved the legislation and the vote was announced, applause broke out among members of the public in attendance before spreading through council chambers, as officials celebrated what they described as a major step in expanding behavioral health services in Parma and Parma Heights.
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