Officer Nicole Ortego, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Officer with the Kansas City Kansas Police Department, says she is thankful to have a resource like RSI in Wyandotte County.
“We can take someone in crisis to RSI and get them the help that they need,” says Ortego.
Ortego says the department has seen an increase in the number of mental health crisis calls in Wyandotte County in recent months. When an officer encounters someone who is in crisis, they talk to the person and determine if the individual needs to go the hospital. If they believe the person needs support and extra resources, they will offer to take them to RSI. Ortego says she hears of officers taking clients to RSI on a daily basis.
“We’re a team. We just want the individual to get better. Our goal is to get them to the right place to get the help they need.”
“It makes our job a lot easier because we can offer those services, whereas we didn’t have that option before,” says Ortego. “We’re able to offer up a place where the person can go and talk to somebody.”
When an individual arrives at RSI, they can meet with a clinician who assesses their needs and can determine what services or resources would be most effective. Because RSI is co-located with Wyandot Center, an individual has additional opportunities to get help and support, even if they don’t need the level of services that RSI provides. The staff at RSI and Wyandot Center work together to make sure everyone who comes through the door receives appropriate treatment and support.
At the end of the day, Ortego says RSI and law enforcement are working together toward the same goal.
“We’re a team. We just want the individual to get better. Our goal is to get them to the right place to get the help they need.”