Publication Date
2026
College
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Department
Social Work, Department of
Student Level
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor
Jennifer Crowell
Presentation Type
Talk/Oral
Summary
Mental health crises are often addressed with law enforcement officers who may not have specific training regarding behavioral health intervention, which can ultimately result in poor outcomes. Tennessee House Bill 0954 proposes that crisis response units with qualified mental health professionals would respond to mental health related calls alongside law enforcement and take the lead in crisis intervention. HB 0954 would also require proper training for officers to encourage collaboration between mental health professionals and officers. Police officers respond to all kinds of emergency calls, ranging across all different types of emergencies, including mental health crises. Research around co-responders has proven that integrating behavioral health professionals into emergency response crises can reduce arrests and improve outcomes of crisis situations. These findings heavily stress the significance of mental health intervention when responding to emergencies. From a social work perspective, the execution of crisis response units would be a meaningful step towards trauma and crisis intervention. This legislation proposes to prioritize the inclusivity of both officers and trained mental health workers, and encourages collaboration between both roles in crisis response. This paper aims to examine the proposed bill through the lens of a social work perspective, specifically exploring how collaboration with mental health professionals improves the law enforcement community, how mental health treatment has helped people experiencing trauma, and considering how mental health resources for law enforcement could be beneficial for all of the individuals involved.
Recommended Citation
Goetz, Lydia; Kaser, Kayla; and Maack, Rachel, "Mapping Change" (2026). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 900.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/900
