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Discussion on incorporating peer support specialists in B-HEARD teams
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Council Member Cabán inquires about the use of peer support specialists in mental health response teams. While the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene confirms they use peers in their work, the B-HEARD program does not currently incorporate them into their teams.
- Cabán emphasizes the empirical evidence showing that peers create safer environments and produce better health and public safety outcomes
- Jason Hansman from NYC Health and Hospitals explains that B-HEARD relies on clinical assessments in the field
- Cabán pushes for a commitment to add peers to B-HEARD teams, but Hansman states they are only 'looking at it' at this time
- The exchange highlights a potential area for improvement in the B-HEARD program's approach to crisis response
Jamie Neckles
2:48:40
So CIT would be a fire department.
2:48:42
I'm sorry.
2:48:43
Police Department.
Tiffany Cabán
2:48:44
Oh, I'm sorry.
2:48:44
But you had testified that you have you have peer teams involved in your mental health response work.
Jamie Neckles
2:48:50
Yes.
Tiffany Cabán
2:48:51
Okay.
2:48:51
And why is
Jamie Neckles
2:48:52
that?
2:48:53
Peer's add tremendous value to the work that we do.
Tiffany Cabán
2:48:57
And I'm going to add to your answer and say that it has also been empirically proven research data evidence shows that peers create safer environments and produce better health and public safety outcomes.
2:49:08
So my question to the B.
2:49:10
H.
2:49:10
Team is why aren't you incorporating peers on your teams, and will you commit to incorporating peers onto your teams?
2:49:18
You just heard that your partners in in government, your health expert partners in government use peers.
Jason Hansman
2:49:24
Yeah.
2:49:24
I think that's actually absolutely correct.
2:49:27
Right?
2:49:27
So, peers are a valuable part of our healthcare system.
2:49:30
Right?
2:49:31
So in health and hospitals, we have them in, you know, our
Tiffany Cabán
2:49:35
My question is, why don't you use them and will you commit to adding them to your teams?
2:49:39
Really, really quick.
2:49:40
So I've got
Jason Hansman
2:49:41
Absolutely.
2:49:41
Yep.
2:49:41
The the reason why we don't have them on our B.
2:49:43
Hurd teams is that we are relying on a clinical assessment out in the field about whether or not an individual should be referred back to the community.
Tiffany Cabán
2:49:51
Why does that prevent from having a peer on a team if it's a 3 to 4 person team, you have a clinical professional to assess, and you could have a peer.
2:50:00
So Because that that doesn't seem like it will you commit to adding peers to your teams?
Jason Hansman
2:50:04
We are this is something we are Yes
Tiffany Cabán
2:50:05
or no.
2:50:05
Will you commit to adding peers to your teams?
Jason Hansman
2:50:08
At this time, we are looking at it.
2:50:10
So but I I just wanna mote, and they mentioned that a a peer can't do that clinical assessment.
2:50:16
We have 2 emails.
Tiffany Cabán
2:50:16
I didn't say that the peer should do the clinical assessment.
2:50:18
I said they should be part of the team.
2:50:20
I'm gonna move on to my question.
2:50:22
Thank you.
2:50:23
I want to ask about just how the the this is more about dispatch and and sort of how they're assessed.
2:50:33
It was specified early to operators, not medical professionals.
2:50:36
Is there a mental health expert in dispatch helping to screen calls or to do the training?
2:50:40
I visited several cities and one of them, they actually did have a mental health expert in dispatch helping dispatch those calls with the full time dispatchers.
2:50:52
Just the question is, is there a mental health expert and dispatch assisting with that work?