Staff Reports
The city of Denver is making a hefty proposal to invest a whopping $6 million to continue its partnership with the nonprofit WellPower in their noble effort to address mental health needs alongside law enforcement. In these trying times of the pandemic, reports have been pouring in about an uptick in mental health needs not just in Colorado, but across the whole nation. Denver, being the shining example of a caring community, is dishing out millions for behavioral health programs.
Denver considering spending $6M to have mental health clinicians go out with policehttps://t.co/G65OmGAZdd
— The Center Square (@thecentersquare) December 19, 2023
This astronomically expensive proposal was discussed at a recent City Council meeting on December 18, and according to city documents, it will add a staggering $2.1 million, bringing the total investment to a mind-boggling $6 million. Not only that, the city is looking to extend the contract by a whopping 13 months, with a new term stretching all the way to November 30, 2024.
Now, let’s talk about WellPower, shall we? This so-called “non-profit” – or should we say, money vacuum – also known as the Mental Health Center of Denver, is overseeing the operation of the Crisis Intervention Response Unit. This operation pairs mental health clinicians with police officers to handle calls involving individuals with suspected mental health needs. Now, some may argue that this is a good thing, but let’s not forget that the Denver Department of Public Safety is already loaded with alternative response programs, including the Crisis Intervention Response Unit.
Well, according to WellPower, a whopping 98% of their encounters did not lead to an arrest, and 97% did not end with a ticket being issued. Sure, that may sound all well and good, but let’s remember that 66% of these encounters were merely recommended for mental health treatment. It’s no wonder the Denver Department of Public Safety is heaping praise on WellPower for their co-responder program, claiming they are “grateful to have a robust set of alternative response programs” in place.
This whole operation kicked off in 2016 with just three clinicians and one police officer. Fast forward to today, and it’s now a city-wide operation with a whopping 41 clinical staff members on the payroll. And get this – they’re even thinking about roping in additional co-responder partnerships with the city.
