The MIST team in 2017. File photo via DHHS.

DOCUMENT:

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Press release from the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury:

The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury has released the seventh report of their 2023-2024 term, entitled “Humboldt County, Behavioral Health, Substance Use, and the Streets: What Works?” Humboldt County citizens who are suffering from significant behavioral health issues have few options. If they are fortunate enough to have private insurance, they may be able to find treatment from a private psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, or clinician. If they need to be hospitalized, they may be able to go to an out-of-area private in-patient facility. For the unhoused, uninsured, underinsured, and those individuals in active and severe crisis, those options do not exist.

For many years the primary responders for our citizens suffering active behavioral health crisis have been law enforcement. This situation is not by choice, but they are often the last strings in the social safety net. In the last fifteen years or so officers have slowly obtained more tools, usually through Critical Incident Team training. These training tools assist law enforcement officers to recognize people in crisis, to use effective de-escalation techniques, and to coordinate with trained behavioral health professionals that respond to assist or manage the situation when they are available.

This report focuses on the concept of having trained professionals to work with those individuals in crisis. Over the last decade, two programs have been reaching out to those most in need. These programs are the Mobile Intervention and Services Team (MIST) and Crisis Alternative Response Eureka (CARE). CARE often works with the Eureka Police Department’s Community Safety Engagement Team (CSET). However, it is important to note that these programs are not aimed solely at those in crisis. These programs also address substance use disorder and attempt to identify people before they reach behavioral health crisis. These programs work to connect the most marginalized of our citizens with critical resources while treating them with respect and dignity.

The 2024-2025 term for the Civil Gand Jury is right around the corner, and the Superior Court is seeking more jurors. If you want to serve your community in a unique way that could improve local government this is your opportunity. Applications to serve on the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury can be found at this link. Additional information provided by the Civil Grand Jurors Association of California can be found at this link.