The Ferndale, Royal Oak, Madison Heights, and Hazel Park Police Departments are excited to announce a new partnership with the Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) Co-Response (CoRe) Outreach Program. This innovative community outreach initiative provides two contracted mental-health clinicians to work with the four community police departments, providing direct assistance and support to people impacted by mental health and substance use disorders. The program aims to supplement police response with specialized approaches, offering support before, during, and after a crisis.

Each police department will have its own CoRe Team, consisting of a Team Coordinator, Liaison Officers, and a Mental Health Clinician. The clinician will be embedded within the law enforcement setting to offer case consultations, coordinate services, and provide referrals for individuals in need. Additionally, the Mental Health Clinician will assist the CoRe Teams with training and coordination, including reviewing policies and procedures, ride-alongs with police officers, safety training with law enforcement, and more.

Both clinicians assigned to Ferndale have undergone extensive prerequisite training to ensure a smooth partnership and effective operations. 

"Having a mental health clinician available to deploy alongside our officers in the field is a tremendous asset to our community," said Ferndale Police Chief Dennis Emmi. "This partnership demonstrates our ongoing commitment to public safety with integrity, professionalism, and honor."

The program focuses on connecting individuals with essential services and, when possible, diverting them from the criminal justice system. By working together, this initiative enhances the community’s response to people in crisis by integrating proactive mental health clinicians into the field. These clinicians provide critical services and mental health follow-up, promoting early intervention and reducing the need for repeated or emergency police involvement, which in turn lowers the risk of escalation. The ultimate goal is to link individuals with long-term, stabilizing support that improves their well-being.

"We're excited about this new approach to serve our community, and we're optimistic about the growth of this partnership over time," Emmi said.